John 13

1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

Jesus knew that his tenure on earth was close to ending, but he loved his followers (‘his own’) unto the end.

2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

It was the devil who incited Judas to betray Jesus. The devil was not conscious of God’s plan of Jesus dying for the sins of others. As far as the devil was concerned, the death of Jesus would imply that people will not flock to Jesus, and will persist sinning. Moreover, the devil would have thought that it would be much easier to kill a mortal Jesus (when he is most vulnerable) than the Son of God.

3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

Jesus had been given all authority by the Father. He came from God, and was going back to God.

4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Before any feast, it is customary for Jewish householders to wash the feet of their guests, to kiss it, and to wipe it. This duty is generally performed by the house owner or by the youngest of the family. However, as read elsewhere, since none of the disciples were keen to do the task, Jesus humbled himself and performed the tradition.

6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

When Peter protested, Jesus sternly insists otherwise.

9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

Jesus says to Peter that those who are already clean (‘washed’) need only to wash their feet. But there were people in the room who were not clean at all (implying Judas).

12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Jesus asks them whether they understood what he did. The disciples hailed Jesus as their Master and Lord (which he is). But if he, being the Lord and Master, humbled himself and washed their feet, then his disciples should do the same to each other in humility, love, and seeing each other as equals. Jesus has given them an example so that they will do as he has done to them.

16Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

The servant can never be greater than his master. Similarly, Jesus (he that is sent), although his miracles demonstrate his power, is not greater than God (he that sent him)- the person who performs the miracles through him.

17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

One is happy if one knows all the wise words and instructions of Jesus, and practices it. Jesus does not intend people to be unhappy whilst following his teachings, but the teaching are meant to make one happy.

18I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

Jesus is not referring to all of his disciples, re: betrayal, for he knows those whom he has chosen. But in order to fulfill the scripture (Psalm 41:9¹), he chose Judas who will partake with him in the feast and still betray him.

19Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.

Jesus is telling the disciples before the betrayal happens, so that they will believe that the scriptures were referring to Jesus when it happens.

20Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Whoever welcomes (receives and accepts the teachings) those whom Jesus sends, receives Jesus himself. And by receiving Jesus, the person is receiving God (him that sent me). This also implies that by receiving Jesus into our life, we are receiving God himself.

21When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Quite often, we notice how Jesus, being the Son of Man, shares human emotions. The impending treachery and crucifixion troubles him, and he mentions again that it is one of his disciples who will be betraying him.

22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

23Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

25He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

The disciples were now suspicious of each other. John (whom Jesus loved), upon being requested by Peter, asks Jesus about the identity of the betrayer.

26Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Jesus answered that it is the person to whom he gives the sop, after dipping it into the fruit sauce. This dipped sop was given to Judas.

The Jewish Passover comprised of lamb, bread (of affliction to symbolise Israel’s ordeal in Egypt), fruit sauce, and bitter herbs. Jesus replaced the lamb.

27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

30He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Upon receiving the sop, Satan entered into the weak link amongst the disciples (the one who was known to dip into the money bag). Jesus then told him, ‘Do quickly whatever it is that you are doing’. The disciples didn’t understand, and some thought that Jesus might be asking him to buy things required for the feast, or to distribute something to the poor. Judas went out immediately.

The question is whether Judas ate the sop or not, i.e., whether he participated in the communion. The next striking comment is in verse 30 ‘: and it was night’. The significance of night as a time for evil seems to be stressed. It is also worth noting that Jesus presence did not prevent Satan from entering into Judas at the table. Therefore, was Satan always close by like a cunning hyaena, waiting for a weak place in the armour? More striking is that the disciples failed to comprehend the identity of the betrayer although Jesus gave them a blatant clue. Were their eyes closed?

31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

The exit of Judas (and Satan) permits Jesus to advise the disciples. The crucifixion (in which Jesus dies for the sins of the entire world- past, present, and future) and resurrection (in which Jesus triumphs over death) will result in the glorifying of Jesus, and thus, the glorifying of God.

32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

When the Father glorifies Jesus, it is not only Jesus who is glorified, but the Father is glorified through the glorification of Jesus.

33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

Jesus refers to his disciples as ‘little children’ (cf. Matthew 18²). Jesus is with them for a few more hours. After that although they will seek him, they cannot go to the same place where Jesus is going (does this mean that the disciples are not taken up to heaven after their death, but has to ‘sleep’ until the second coming?).

34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Jesus gives them a new commandment: That they should love each other just as he loved them. By this, everyone will understand that they are the disciples of Jesus. This commandment also incorporates all the 10 commandments (Exodus 20³). If one loves another just like Jesus did, love will enable following of the commandments.

36Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

Peter is curious about the destination of Jesus. He asks ‘Quo vadis’? And Jesus answers: ‘You cannot follow me to the place where I am going to; but you will follow me later’.

37Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

38Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Peter is quick to emphasise that he will lay down his life for Jesus. Upon which Jesus, knowing the future, asks him, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? The cock will not crow, until you have denied me three times’. Although Jesus knows about Peter’s impending denunciation, he is not angered… something which Christians should learn.

¹ Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

²And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

³

3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

13Thou shalt not kill.

14Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15Thou shalt not steal.

16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.