"Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet"

John began his writing of this Gospel on the topic of eternity, and ends it by telling of Jesus coming to earth again. Much of the rest of our study of the Gospel of John is of Jesus teaching His disciples privately just before His arrest and death.

His deep love for the believers, and the peace that comes from having faith are clearly illustrated.

Chapters 13-17 tell us what Jesus said to His disciples on the night before His death. These words were all spoken on one evening with only the disciples as His audience. Here, knowing the following events would change their lives for ever, and to prepare them for His death and resurrection , he gave them final instructions.


Jesus Teaches His Disciples

John 13 Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Verse 1: "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Jesus knew one of His disciples would betray Him, that He would be disowned by another, and abandoned by all, yet never wavered in His love for them.

The term "love" is used 31 times in chapters 13-17 as Jesus demonstrates to His disciples the full extent of His love. Love is the laying down of one's life, and to love completely means to love to the end of one's life.

Verse 2: "During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,"

There is some question among bible scholars as to whether this supper they shared was the "Last Supper" or the "Passover Meal." In this instance it's rather immaterial because in John's gospel go into the meaning of the Last Supper, or Passover, but begins with Jesus washing the disciples feet.

Jesus chose Judas to be His disciple. We often wonder why Judas would want to betray Jesus. Many scholars believe that Judas expected Jesus to become King and that he would automatically become the treasure. However, when Jesus praised Mary for anointing Him with the expensive perfume Judas began to realize that Jesus kingdom was not to be physical or political, but spiritual, which would not satisfy his greedy desire for money or status.

His betrayal of Jesus brought him a little money and would hopefully place him in favor with the religious leaders. However, this was short lived and Judas deeply regretting his actions had tried to undo them by attempting to return the money.

Verse 3-4: "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist."

Taking off his outer garment would leave Jesus with his tunic, a shorter garment like a long undershirt. Slaves would be so dressed to serve a meal (Lk 12:37; 17:8). Jesus then tied a linen cloth around his waist with which to dry their feet. This was obviously not what one would expect a master to do, and according to Jewish text not even a Jewish slave could be required to do this, but only a gentile slave (Ex 21:2); so this was most commonly the work of a servant or of submissive wives or children. (1 Sam 25:41

Verse 5: "Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him."

Although some churches practice foot washing, most scholars believe that Jesus probably did not intent to initiate a practice to be observed continually in the church. His actions indicate His concern that His followers would understand the meaning of 'servant-hood.'

Although a servant usually performed the task of washing the guests feet Jesus used this occasion to teach His disciples a lesson in humility and selfless service.

Verse 6: "He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand."

Jesus said that it was "important" that He wash Simon Peter's feet. It is also important to remember that Jesus was washing the feet of one who would soon deny knowing Him.

Information on the couches: The couches would be arranged around tables containing the food, with the upper part of each person's body facing their food and their fee away from the table. Jesus would go to the outside of this circle to wash each person's feet.

Verse 8-9: "Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"

There were strict cultural status boundaries in that day, and Jesus washing the disciples feet completely violated those boundaries to the extent that Peter considered it unthinkable.

Verse 10: "Jesus said to him, The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you."

"Bathing" here is thought to be referring to ceremonial washing that Jesus and the disciples had undergone before the feast as mentioned in (John 11:55), but here Jesus applies it in a spiritual sense. (to be cleansed spiritually)

Verse 11: "For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean."

Jesus knew all along that Judas would betray Him. Although Jesus had included Judas in the ceremonial washing, Judas betrayal of Jesus would leave him unclean.

Verse 12: "When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you?"

Jesus asked if they knew what He had done to them. They do not completely understand until after the crucifixion.

So Jesus goes on to answer His own question:

Verse 13-15: "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you."

In that day disciples were to learn by imitating their teachers. The example Jesus had given, was, among other things, a lesson in "humility." In that day humility was despised and considered a sign of weakness, making Jesus command revolutionary in the realm of human relationships.

While the disciples were still reeling from what they consider to be an embarrassing event, Jesus tell them "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (verse 14)

Jesus was sent by the Father, and the disciples, including you and me, are sent by Jesus. As Jesus has been submissive to the Father, so the disciples are to be under the authority of Jesus.

Verse 16: "Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him."

Slaves in that day receive authority from their masters, and because of this were more prominent than some free peasants; however they were always subordinate to, and never greater than their masters.

Verse 17: "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

Knowing without doing is said to find no approval anywhere in the teaching of Jesus.

Verse 18: "I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me."

The scripture Jesus quoted is Psalm 41:9, a psalm of a righteous sufferer.

John shows us that the betrayal did not catch him by surprise. In fact, it was been spoken of in Scripture: "He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me" (Psa 41:9).

Jesus and the disciples, including Judas, was known as "table fellowship' and was considered to be an intimated bond among partaker's. Judas' betrayal after this was considered to be particularly perverse.

Verse 19: "I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he."

Since the betrayal itself does not begin until verse 27 this psalm given by Jesus is actually prophecy. The fact that Jesus had foreknowledge of the event is emphasized and offered as evidence of His divinity.

And in Isaiah 41:26 God predicted Jesus' future so that when it would come about His people would acknowledge that He is the true god.

The use of the "I AM" in verse 19 is considered to be another allusion to the great name for God in EX 3:14.

Later when the disciples witnessed the death and resurrection of Christ, then later saw Him return to heaven recalled Jesus words and believed that He was the great "I AM."

Verse 20: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."

After He used this divine name in reference to Himself, He returned to the theme of His mission.

In ancient cultures, one was taught to respond to agents, ambassadors and representatives according to the feelings of the person who authorized them. They were to convey the feelings of the person who had sent them. To accept the messenger was to accept the sender.

The one who represents Christ will be meet with the same response Jesus met, but will also be an agent of the Father by the Spirit. Each disciple should maintain a consciousness of being on such a mission, which is only made possible through the closest intimacy with Jesus.

One of You Will Betray Me

Verse 21: "After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

So here again we see the strain of the betrayal coming to the forefront. These strong expressions by Jesus reflect the mounting tension of the approach of the Passover and crucifixion. The reference to the betrayal in verse 21 is more specific than the earlier hints as in , one of you is going to betray me. The effect on the disciples is also more dramatic.

Jesus was troubled in His spirit - Greek philosophers stressed remaining always tranquil and untroubled in spirit. But although the Gospel of John stresses Jesus' deity it also stresses His humanity (John 1:140).

There are also many places in the Old Testament where God's passionate feelings also frequently surface. (Judg 10:16, Isaiah 63:9-10 and more.

Verse 22-24: "The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at a table close to Jesus, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking."

Men would recline on the couches, but women would not dine in the same room except with their own families. Each person would recline slightly behind the person to his right; thus John could lean his head back and be even with Jesus' chest. This beloved disciple at the right hand of Jesus had one of the most honored positions at the feast, and some commentators think Judas may have been on Jesus' left with the second most honored position.

This vivid account could have only come from an eye witness account which, in this case, was the disciple John, who is believed to be the one described here, as "the one whom Jesus loved;" also the author of this Gospel.

Simon peter motioned John to ask Jesus which of them it was that would betray Him.

And verse 25 says:

Verse 25: "So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?" 26Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot."

The dipping of the piece of read and the offering of it to Judas was a gesture of honor, which many regarded as a final appeal to Judas the betrayer.

Verse 27: "Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."

Any one who could act like Judas must surely have been under the influence of Satan.

Verse 28: "Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. 30So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night."

Once again the disciples understanding failed them. They did not recognize the spiritual significance and could only think in human terms. They thought that since Judas was the treasurer he had surely gone to buy food or to give money to the poor.

Some also thought that doing charitable work before Passover would secure God's favor. It would not have been customary to go outside on Passover night (Ex 12:22) but in John's narrations Passover apparently began the following day..

The rest of this chapter is considered to be the prelude to what has become known as the f farewell discourses in chapters 14 - 16. It contains two themes- Jesus' relationship to the disciples and His specific prediction about Peter.

A New Commandment

Verse 31: "When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once."

Here again Jesus is speaking of His coming glorification, and in these verses John tells of the triumphal way in which Jesus faced the cross.

Verse 33: "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come."

Verse 33 contains a backward look and recalls the words in John 7:33.

Teachers sometimes called their disciples "children." and disciples called teachers ' my father."

Verse 34: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

The new commandment in verse 34 is repeated in John 15:12. The Law already required our highest devotion to God, but here Jesus commands that the disciples should love one another.

What makes Jesus commandment new is the new standard and example: "as I have love you" - in the contexts, to the point of laying down one's life for others.

This new commandment presses beyond our natural human inclinations and is only possible by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

God is love, He loves regardless of our weaknesses.

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

Verse 36: "Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward."

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Verse 37-38: "Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. "Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times."

While we sometimes offer external manifestations of Christ in our lives as “Proof” of our faith, Christ directs us to something that can’t be duplicated without His power in us, and that is to love like Christ loved, (unconditionally)!

When God’s love is perfected in us we receive a love that goes beyond the desire to be loved back. In fact, Christ loved Judas, even though He was well aware that he was His betrayer.

Jesus went to the cross so that we could be cleansed of guilt, shame and wrath. This love is not normal in a world that places itself first. Jesus' love sacrificed, so that His father can be glorified, and so that others can enjoy the glory of God!

Jesus Christ has cleansed us from all sin, and we are free to serve and love Him, and then to love one another! It is to this sacrificial love that we are called, and which will bring forth the joy and peace!

For next week we can read: John 14:1-31) We find that Jesus is only way to the Father, and Jesus promises the Holy Spirit.


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Jesus washes the Disciples Feet