Jesus Washes Feet of the Disciples
1Jews were getting ready to celebrate Passover. [1] Jesus knew his time on earth was almost over. He needed to go back to the Father. He would leave behind people he loved. He would love them to death—to the very end.2By suppertime, the devil had convinced Judas Iscariot, Simon’s boy, to help Jewish authorities arrest Jesus. 3But Jesus knew the Father had put him in charge of everything that was going to happen. Jesus understood that he had come from God and that he was going back to God.
4He got up from the supper table, took off his robe, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5He poured some water into a bowl and started washing the feet of the disciples. He used the towel to dry their feet.
6When Jesus got to Simon Peter, the disciple objected: “Lord, do you really think you’re going to wash my feet?”
7Jesus said, “You don’t yet understand what I’m doing right now. But you will.”
8Peter told Jesus, “There’s no way you’ll ever wash my feet!”
Jesus said, “If I can’t wash your feet, you can’t have anything to do with me anymore.”
9Simon Peter said, “In that case, Lord, wash my feet and my hands and my head!”
10Jesus said, “You’ve had a bath. Aside from the dust on your feet, you’re clean. Most of you men are clean, but not all of you.” 11Jesus knew who was about to betray him. That’s why he said not all of the men were clean.
Jesus Explains Why He Washed the Disciples’ Feet
12After Jesus finished washing their feet, he put his robe back on and sat down at the table. He asked the men, “Do you understand what I just did for you? 13You call me by the respected names of Teacher and Master. You’re right to do that because I am both of those. 14Your Master and Teacher just stooped to wash your feet, so you shouldn’t be too proud to wash each other’s feet. 15I just gave you an example to follow. So, follow it. You saw what I did. You need to do it too.16“This is the truth. A student isn’t more important than the teacher. And a messenger isn’t more important than the one who sent him to deliver the message. 17Once you understand this and put it into practice, you’re going to be much better off.
Judas’s Betrayal Doesn’t Surprise Jesus
18“What I’m saying doesn’t apply to all of you. I know those devoted to me because I chose them. But the Bible prophecy needed to be fulfilled: ‘A friend of mine who eats my bread will turn against me.’ [2] 19I’m telling you this ahead of time so that when it happens, you’ll believe I am who I said I am. [3] 20Listen, this is the truth. When I send people out with a message, anyone who welcomes them is welcoming me, because I’m the one who sent them. And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the Father who sent me.”“One of You Will Betray Me”
21After Jesus said this, he became deeply upset and his spirit collapsed. When he spoke again, he said, “I’m deathly serious. This is the truth. One of you will betray me.”22This stunned the disciples speechless. They started looking around at each other. 23One disciple Jesus deeply loved [4] was sitting right beside him at the table. 24Simon Peter motioned the disciple to ask Jesus who he was talking about. 25So the disciple leaned backward, put his head against the chest of Jesus, [5] and said, “Lord, who’s going to do this to you?”
26Jesus said, “It’s the one I’ll give this piece of bread, after dipping it.” Jesus dipped the bread and handed it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. 27Judas ate the bread, then Satan came right into him.
Jesus told Judas, “That business you need to take care of, do it quickly.” 28No one at the table had any idea why Jesus said that. 29Some figured that since Judas carried the group’s money bag that Jesus sent him on a shopping trip to buy whatever the group needed for the Passover festival. Or maybe Jesus sent him to donate something for the poor.
30So after Judas ate the bread Jesus gave him, he left and went out into the darkness of night. 31After Judas left, Jesus told the others, “It’s time. The Son of Humans is about to get honored, [6] and God will be honored because of what the Son does. 32If God is honored because of the Son, God himself will reciprocate by honoring the Son right back—and right away. 33Dear children, I’ll be with you just a little bit longer. I’ll tell you the same thing I told the Jewish leaders. You can’t come with me. There you have it.
New Law to Live By: Love One Another
34“I’m going to leave you with a new law to live by: Love one another. You’ve seen how I love you. Love each other like that. 35Here’s how people will recognize you as my disciples. They’ll see the resemblance when you love each other.”36Simon Peter said, “Lord, exactly where are you going?”
Jesus answered, “You can’t go where I’m going. Not yet. But you’ll follow me later.”
37Peter said, “Lord, why can’t I go with you now? There’s no place I wouldn’t go because I’m willing to die for you.”
38Jesus said, “You’ll die for me? Here’s what’s going to happen. Three times you’re going to deny you even know me. The rooster won’t crow in the morning until you do that.”
