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Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew
that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to
the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he
loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had
already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray
Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under
his power, and that he had come from God and was returning
to God; 4 so 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.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are
you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus 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!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need
only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you
are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who
was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every
one was clean.
12 When 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. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher,
have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s
feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I
have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, servants are
not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater
than the one who sent them. 17 Now that you know these
things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I
have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of
Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has lifted up his heel
against me.’
19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that
when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20
Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts
me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in
spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is
going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to
know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple
whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter
motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he
means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord,
who is it?”
26 Jesus 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, the
son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread,
Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are
about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal
understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had
charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to
buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something
to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he
went out. And it was night.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of
Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is
glorified in him, 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. 35 By this
everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love
one another.”
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but
you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I
will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your
life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster
crows, you will disown me three times!
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