John 13
New Testament for Everyone
Washing the disciples’ feet
13 It was before the festival of Passover. Jesus knew that his time had come, the time for him to leave this world and go to the father. He had always loved his own people in the world; now he loved them right through to the end.
2 It was suppertime. The devil had already put the idea of betraying him into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 3 Jesus knew that the father had given everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God. 4 So he got up from the supper-table, took off his clothes, and wrapped himself in a towel. 5 Then he poured water into a bowl, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel he was wrapped in.
6 He came to Simon Peter.
“Master,” said Peter, “what’s this? You, washing my feet?”
7 “You don’t understand yet what I’m doing,” replied Jesus, “but you’ll know afterwards.”
8 “I’m not going to have you washing my feet!” said Peter. “Never!”
“If I don’t wash you,” replied Jesus, “you don’t belong to me.”
9 “All right then, Master,” said Simon Peter, “but not only my feet—wash my hands and my head as well!”
10 “Someone who has washed,” said Jesus to him, “doesn’t need to wash again, except for their feet. They are clean all over. And you are clean—but not all of you.”
11 Jesus knew, you see, who was going to betray him. That’s why he said, “You are not all clean.”
Like master, like servant
12 So when he had washed their feet, he put on his clothes and sat down again.
“Do you know what I’ve done to you?” he asked. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher,’ and ‘Master,’ and you’re right. That’s what I am. 14 Well, then: if I, as your master and teacher, washed your feet just now, you should wash one another’s feet. 15 I’ve given you a pattern, so that you can do things in the same way that I did to you.
16 “I’m telling you the solemn truth,” he continued. “The slave isn’t greater than the master. People who are sent are not greater than the person who sends them. 17 If you know these things, God’s blessing on you if you do them.
18 “I’m not talking about all of you,” he went on. “I know the ones I have chosen. What the Bible says has to come true: ‘The person who ate my bread lifted up his heel against me.’ 19 I’m telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am who I am. 20 I’m telling you the solemn truth: anyone who welcomes someone I send, welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.”
Judas goes out
21 After saying this, Jesus was troubled in spirit. He explained why.
“I’m telling you the solemn truth,” he said. “One of you will betray me.”
22 The disciples looked at each other in shock, wondering who he could be talking about. 23 One of the disciples, the one Jesus specially loved, was reclining at table close beside him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask who it was he was talking about. 25 So, leaning back against Jesus’ chest, he asked him, “Who is it, Master?”
26 “It’s the one I’m going to give this piece of bread to,” said Jesus, “when I’ve dipped it in the dish.”
So he dipped the piece of bread, and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After the bread, the satan entered into him.
“Do it quickly, won’t you?” said Jesus to him.
28 None of the others at the table knew what he meant. 29 Because Judas kept the common purse, some were thinking that he meant, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he was to give something to the poor.
30 So when Judas had taken the bread, he went out at once. It was night.
Love one another
31 When Judas had gone out, Jesus began to speak.
“Now the son of man is glorified!” he said. “Now God is glorified in him! 32 And if God is glorified in him, God will glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Children, I’m only with you a little longer. You will look for me, and, as I said to the Judaeans that where I was going they couldn’t come, so I’m saying the same to you now.
34 “I’m giving you a new commandment, and it’s this: love one another! Just as I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 This is how everybody will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other.”
36 Simon Peter spoke up.
“Master,” he said, “where are you going?”
“Where I’m going,” replied Jesus, “you can’t follow me just now. You will follow later, though.”
37 “Master,” Peter replied, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!”
38 “Will you really lay down your life for me?” smiled Jesus. “I’m telling you the solemn truth: by the time the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.”
John 13
King James Version
13 Now 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.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After 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.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus 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.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So 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?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
18 I 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.
19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
21 When 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.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus 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.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 For 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.
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33 Little 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.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36 Simon 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.
37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
38 Jesus 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.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
