The Gospels · Chapter 13 of 21

John 13

On the last night, knowing His hour has come, Jesus rises from supper, wraps a towel, and washes His disciples' feet, even Judas'. He turns this humblest act into a lesson in love and a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. He foretells His betrayal and Peter's threefold denial, showing love that stoops and love that endures to the end.

What happens in John 13

Before the Passover, knowing His hour to depart has come, and having loved His own to the end, Jesus rises from supper. He lays aside His garments, girds Himself with a towel, and begins to wash the disciples' feet. Peter protests, but Jesus tells him that unless He washes him, Peter has no part with Him, and Peter then asks to be washed all over. Jesus teaches that if their Lord and Master has washed their feet, they ought to wash one another's.

Troubled in spirit, He announces that one of them will betray Him, indicating Judas by giving him the sop and telling him to do quickly what he will do. Judas goes out into the night. Jesus speaks of being glorified and gives a new commandment, to love one another as He has loved them, the mark of true disciples. Peter vows to lay down his life, and Jesus foretells that he will deny Him three times before the cock crows.

John 13 in context

This chapter opens the second half of John's Gospel, the upper room and the long farewell discourse of chapters 13 through 17, spoken to the disciples on the eve of the crucifixion. It shifts from public conflict to intimate instruction.

The foot washing frames everything that follows as an act of love unto the end, and the new commandment sets the theme that will run through the coming chapters as Jesus prepares His own for His departure.

Main themes of John 13

John 13 (KJV)

1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 18I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 19Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. 20Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 21When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 26Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. 31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. 33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 36Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. 37Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. 38Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Verses to carry from John 13

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”John 13:14

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”John 13:34

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”John 13:35

Reflection

This chapter asks whether you will let Jesus wash you, receiving a cleansing you cannot give yourself, and then take up the towel for others. It sets His love as your measure, not your own comfort or fairness. And it assures you that Christ loves His own to the end, even knowing every failure ahead.

A prayer from John 13