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John 13

1Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2During dinner, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him, 3Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God. 4He got up from dinner, laid aside his outer garments, and took a towel and tied it around himself. 5Then he poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples' feet and drying them with the towel tied around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you washing my feet?” 7Jesus answered him, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand afterward.” 8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head too!” 10Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet; he is entirely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you.” 11For he knew who was betraying him; that is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12When he had washed their feet, put on his outer garments, and reclined at the table again, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord, and you speak rightly, for that is what I am. 14So if I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have given you an example, so that you too may do just as I have done for you. 16Truly, truly, I tell you: a slave is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But this is so that the scripture may be fulfilled: ‘The one eating my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19I am telling you now, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am he. 20Truly, truly, I tell you: whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

21After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you: one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain whom he meant. 23One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' breast. 24Simon Peter motioned to him to find out whom he meant. 25So that disciple leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give the piece of bread after dipping it.” He dipped the piece and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27Then, after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Jesus said to him, “What you are doing, do quickly.” 28No one reclining at the table understood why he said this to him. 29Since Judas kept the money box, some thought Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30So after taking the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ I now tell you too. 34I give you a new command: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you too are to love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples: if you have love for one another.”

36Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” 37Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I tell you: a rooster will not crow before you have denied me three times.

Translation notes 2

13:1–2, 16, 18 — Love, dinner, and service. “To the end” can also express the fullest extent of love. The base places the foot washing during dinner; “after supper” reflects another reading. “Into the heart of Judas” makes the implied possessor explicit; the base says “into the heart,” followed by a clause stating that Judas would betray Jesus. “Messenger” in verse 16 is apostolos, the word behind “apostle,” used in a general comparison with a sender. The raised heel in verse 18 keeps the image of hostility or betrayal.

13:23–25 — At Jesus' breast. Diners reclined beside one another rather than sitting in modern chairs. The favored disciple's position allows him to lean back toward Jesus. “Breast” in verse 23 translates the same word as 1:18; “chest” in verse 25 is a different word. The disciple is not named here.