1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
18"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'[b]
19"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
26Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
31When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
36Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
37Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Discussion:
- Act of Love greatly demonstrated by Jesus washing the disciples feet. It is great act of humility to which Jesus calls us to do likewise as stated in verse 14 'Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another's feet.' Does this mean to literally wash each others feet? This brings in the thought of King or God washing your feet. Wow, helps one understand the initial reaction Peter has to Jesus gesture. Is it easier to humble oneself to receive such great love when there is reciprocation?
- How does Jesus demonstrate love to His disciples in other times? We realize that apart from the call of each disciple on individual basis, we mostly see Jesus serving the crowds with the help of His disciples. The people receive miracles in their midst, as well as being met at their point of need such as the feeding of the 5,000 with bread and fish. Jesus relates to the disciples in more intimate way as shares meal with disciples with breaking of bread. Also, Jesus provides greater teaching following the relay of parables that shows closeness shared with His disciples.
- How do we relate to Jesus portraying love as parent/child relationship?
- How do we show our love to those close to us?
- v17 - v18 Jesus chooses Judas yet he does not have the best role to play. How much of his will was Judas able to express in the betrayal of Jesus given it was a fulfillment of scripture? We find that Judas hardly questions as there is no questioning following Jesus indication of him as the betrayer in v.26 - v.27. This brings to light the importance of seeking to quest further into God's word with question. Would Judas fate have been different with question or was he used to reveal God's glory? How can we relate his betrayal to Peter's of denying Jesus three times as stated in v.38? Did Judas know what he was doing? How evil was Judas? Does Judas make it to heaven?
- How can we be weary of following Judas' fate today? Judas' weakness was his love of money as illustrated with question of anointing Jesus' feet with perfume by Mary in John 12. He was so close to Jesus yet he did not realize the move of God's power. We see this a question of faith and the importance of not being simply more conscientious at the beginning but even more as one grows. Here an illustration of how the devil uses our weakness to cause harm. We are encouraged not to give the devil a foothold. We also realize the need to have the Holy Spirit to fully understand Jesus' teaching.
