The Washing of the Feet
1It was just before the festival of the Passover. Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He had loved his own who were in the world, and he loved them to the end. 2During supper — the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray him — 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4got up from the meal, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel and tied it around his waist. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel around his waist. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will.” 8Peter said to him, “Never — you will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Then, Lord — not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” 10Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed needs only to wash his feet; the rest of him is clean. And you are clean — though not all of you.” 11For he knew who was betraying him; that is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12When he had washed their feet, put his outer clothing back on, and returned to his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13You call me the Teacher and the Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14So if I — the Lord and the Teacher — have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done for you. 16Very truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18I am not speaking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: ‘The one who eats my bread has turned his heel against me.’ 19I am telling you now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am he. 20Very truly I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
The Betrayal Foretold
21After saying this, Jesus was shaken in spirit, and he declared, “Very truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close at Jesus’ side. 24So Simon Peter motioned to him to find out whom he was talking about. 25Leaning back, then, against Jesus’ chest, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one for whom I will dip this piece of bread and give it to him.” Then he dipped the piece of bread, and he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27And with the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus said to him, “What you are doing, do quickly.” 28None of those at the table understood why he said this to him. 29Since Judas kept the money box, some thought Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as he had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
The New Commandment
31When he had gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself — and he will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and, as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going, you cannot come. 34I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also are to love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples: that you have love for one another.” 36Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” 37Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38Jesus answered, “You will lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will have denied me three times.”
