John 13

John 13 follows John 12, which concludes Jesus' public ministry, and begins the account of the final night Jesus spends alone with his disciples. Chapters 13–17 are commonly grouped together as the "Farewell Discourse" (or "Upper Room Discourse").

Outline

• Verses 1–3 Before the Passover, knowing that his hour to depart has come, Jesus loves his own to the end. The devil puts into the heart of Judas the intention to betray him.
• Verses 4–11 Jesus girds himself with a towel and washes the disciples' feet. When Peter refuses, Jesus answers, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
• Verses 12–20 Jesus says that he has given them an example and tells them to wash one another's feet. He cites the Scripture, "He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me."
• Verses 21–30 Jesus says that one of the disciples will betray him and gives a morsel of bread to Judas. Judas goes out, "and it was night."
• Verses 31–35 Jesus speaks of the glorification of the Son of man and gives the new commandment to love one another.
• Verses 36–38 When Peter declares that he will lay down his life, Jesus foretells that Peter will deny him three times before the cock crows.

Key Verses

• John 13:1 "He loved them unto the end" — the sentence that introduces chapters 13–21 as a whole.
• John 13:14–15 "Ye also ought to wash one another's feet" — words that set forth an example of service.
• John 13:34–35 "As I have loved you, that ye also love one another" — presents love as the mark of discipleship.

Characters and Setting

• Jesus Christ: Though he calls himself "Master" and "Lord," he performs the work of a servant.
• Peter: He first refuses to have his feet washed, then asks to be washed entirely.
• Judas Iscariot: The son of Simon and the disciple who kept the money bag.
• The disciple whom Jesus loved: The disciple who was leaning on Jesus' bosom. Church tradition identifies him as the apostle John, but the text does not name him.
• Setting: The text does not specify the location. The term "upper room" comes from the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 14:15; Luke 22:12).

Points to Consider

• The practice of foot washing: Most Protestants read this scene as an example of humility and service. By contrast, some churches in the Anabaptist tradition and the Seventh-day Adventist Church practice foot washing as an ordinance in conjunction with the Lord's Supper. The Catholic Church performs a foot-washing rite during the Holy Thursday Mass.
• The date and the meal: John places this meal "before the feast of the passover," and the chapter contains no words concerning the bread and the cup. For this reason, interpreters have proposed various ways of harmonizing John's account with the Synoptic Gospels, which depict the Last Supper as a Passover meal.
• Verse 10: Some interpreters take "he that is washed" to refer to baptism or justification (God's declaring the sinner righteous), and the washing of the feet to refer to daily repentance and sanctification (the process of growing in holiness).
• Connections within the New Testament: Verse 18 quotes Psalm 41:9. Peter's denial takes place in John 18, and Peter is restored in John 21:15–17. The new commandment appears again in John 15:12–13 and in 1 John.

In Korean Churches

• Some churches read this chapter on Thursday of Holy Week and hold a foot-washing service.
• Verses 34–35 are frequently used as memory verses and church mottos.