John 13 NIV

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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, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

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 turned 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 the Son of Man is 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!

In Gospel of John chapter 13, Jesus gathers with His disciples for the Passover meal, fully aware that His time has come to leave the world and return to the Father. In a powerful act of humility, He washes the disciples’ feet, a task usually reserved for servants. This moment reveals His deep love and teaches that true leadership in God’s kingdom is marked by service. When Peter initially resists, Jesus explains that this washing symbolizes spiritual cleansing, emphasizing that those who belong to Him must accept His grace.

During the meal, Jesus becomes troubled in spirit and reveals that one of His own disciples will betray Him. The disciples are confused and begin to question who it could be. Jesus identifies the betrayer indirectly, and Judas Iscariot receives the piece of bread, after which Satan enters him, and he leaves to carry out the betrayal. Despite this dark moment, Jesus speaks of His glorification, pointing toward His impending death and the fulfillment of His mission.

Jesus then gives His disciples a new commandment: to love one another just as He has loved them. He explains that this kind of love will be the defining mark of His followers. As He prepares them for His departure, He tells them they cannot follow Him immediately, which confuses Peter. Peter boldly declares his willingness to lay down his life, but Jesus foretells that Peter will deny Him three times before the rooster crows. This chapter highlights themes of humility, betrayal, sacrificial love, and the challenges of true discipleship.

Jesus said,
🌿 “Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts Me; and whoever accepts Me accepts the One who sent Me.”

In this verse, Jesus speaks about the connection between Himself, His followers, and the Father. Those who receive the messengers sent by Jesus are ultimately receiving Jesus Himself, and in receiving Jesus, they receive God the Father who sent Him.

Jesus reveals the unity of God’s mission.
The Father sent the Son, and the Son sends His followers to carry His truth and message to the world.

This verse also teaches the importance of humility and faith. Welcoming those who faithfully carry the message of Christ is connected to welcoming the truth of God.

The passage points beyond human authority alone. The disciples were not sent in their own name or power, but as witnesses of Jesus Christ.

John 13:20 reminds us that receiving Christ and His truth leads people into relationship with the Father who sent Him.