Alone before His judges - in righteousness, ch. 18
Alone beneath our sin - in death, ch. 19
Alone above death - in resurrection, ch. 20
Alone over His Church- in preeminence, ch. 21
13:1. Now 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.
13:2 And supper being ended {lit., supper being in progress},
the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him;
13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, {Joh 3:35} and that he was come from God, and went to God; {16:27,28} 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments;
and took a towel, and girded himself.
He loved them unto the end {ie., to the uttermost degree}.-
For His own, He knowingly...
came into the world, to the appointed time, to fulfill the Father's will,
with immeasurable love for those whom He would redeem (v.1).
endured the treachery of a fallen angel and a former friend (v.2),
took up the task, given by the Father, which only He, the God-man, could do (v.3),
humbled Himself and became a servant... (v.4). cp. Php 2:6-8
His love for His own is at the heart of His fellowship with them this evening.
He washed their feet due to His loving concern for them.-
He was about to depart out of the world {GK= kosmos, the world system} under the dominion of sin and Satan.
While Jesus walked in the world, He remained uncontaminated by sin, and He kept His own sanctified {set apart} for God's service. But now, the disciples must learn the importance of cleansing to maintain their relationship with God. cp. Joh 17:11-17
He knew the danger of Satan's presence, as evidenced by his influence over Judas.
To be kept from the evil one, they must be cleansed from sin. cp. 17:15
supper being ended {ie., being in progress}- The Lord's Supper is not recorded by John,
Why? It may be that by the time John wrote, Communion had already become a religious ritual. John places emphasis, not on a ritual, but on our relationship to the person of Christ. The bread and wine is symbolic of our identification with Christ, the Word of God. (See Note at Joh 6:63.)
His hour had come.- His death is foundational to all that He says to them on its eve.
It is the basis of their cleansing. cp. Joh 12:23-33
13:5 After 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.
13:6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter:
and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him,
What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.
Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him,
Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head.
13:10 Jesus saith to him,
He that is washed {GK= louo, bathed} needeth not save to wash {GK= nipto, wash} [his] feet,
but is clean every whit {GK= holos, wholly, entirely, throughout}:
and ye are clean {ie., 'clean ones' [Wuest]}, but not all.
13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean {'clean ones' [Wuest]}.
Peter's reaction to Christ's ministry is fleshly. Jesus is teaching spiritual truth.
"The flesh cannot understand spiritual realities. It is either too backward (v.6), or too forward (v.9), or too courageous (v.37), or too cowardly (v.38). It is incapable of ever being right; it is impossible of improvement. Hence, it must die." [GWms]
he that is {bathed} needs... [only] to wash his feet.-
In that day, people bathed at the public bath house. After bathing, their bodies were entirely clean. But on their walk home on dirt roads their sandal clad feet would get dirty.
It was a common courtesy for a host to provide for the washing of his guests feet. cp. Gen 18:4
bathed- GK= louo, to bathe the body. Compare this GK word as used in Titus 3:5,6; Rev 1:5.
'The washing {bathing} of regeneration' (Titus 3:5,6) refers to the believer's new birth.
Total spiritual cleansing is provided by Christ's blood, shed once at the cross. Heb 10:1-18
In the sight of God, the believer is made entirely clean, because Christ's blood is the expiation for sin. [expiation = that which makes remission for sin and thus removes our guilt] Rom 3:23-26; 1Cor 1:30; 6:11
washed- GK= nipto, to wash a part of the body, (cp. word usage in Joh 9:6,7).
Through faith in Christ, the believer is declared righteous and sanctified {set apart} as a child of God who lives to please Him. Yet, while living in this fallen world, the believer remains subject to fleshly temptations. Upon stumbling into incidental sin, that area of corruption requires cleansing, if he is to maintain a right relationship with the holy God.
But the believer is incapable of cleansing Himself.
Jesus said, ''If I wash {GK= nipto} thee not, thou hast no part with me.'' (v.8)
As God's Word washes my heart, my thoughts and desires will become more like His.
dost thou wash my feet? - Peter was ashamed to see the Lord kneeling to serve him.
If I would see Him tending to my filthy feet, with His nail scarred hands, would I be so quick to dirty them again?
ye are not all clean.- Jesus knew that Judas had not come under the "washing of regeneration."
Clean feet cannot make a man right with God, if he has not first been made entirely clean through faith in Christ (v.10). The order of Cleansing is first the Altar of Sacrifice, then the Laver of washing. Sinful flesh can never be righteous before God, even though it may behave morally (cp. Isa 64:6). In Jesus' presence, even Judas had been sanctified (kept from external sin) temporarily. The means of inner cleansing was ever before him, until he turned away. (Likewise, an unbelieving spouse, though unsaved, is temporarily sanctified through relationship with a believer. 1Cor 7:14-16)
13:12 So 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?
13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.
13:14 If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet;
ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord;
neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
I... your Master - ie., teacher. He, being my superior, is to be trusted.
I... your Lord - ie., ruler. He, being my superior, is to be obeyed.
If I... have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet.-
Some groups literally practice 'foot washing' as a part of their worship services. There is value in this, as it teaches humility. However, the Lord washed feet as an 'example' (v.15), not to establish a religious rite. Foot washing is mentioned in 1Tim 5:10, in the context of showing hospitality, as part of a general pattern of service.
By example, Jesus teaches several lessons here:
We need to serve one another, not thinking ourselves too important. Php 2:3-5
Often, we are more like the disciples, who argued about their own greatness, even while Jesus prepared to die for them.
See Luk 22:24-27, where the preceding verses show that this argument took place at the Lord's last supper! Perhaps the conflict ended, as the Lord rose from the table and took the place of a servant.
We need to submit our own feet (ie., walk, way of life) to His inspection and cleansing. cp. Psa 139:23,24; 1Pet 2:21-24
if ye know these things, happy {blessed} are ye if ye do them.-
This statement has present and future implications. cp. Jam 1:25; Luk 12:37
''Trust and obey, for there is no other way,
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.'' [hymn]
13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: {cp. Joh 6:70,71; 15:16}
but that the scripture may be fulfilled,
He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
13:19 Now I tell you before it come,
that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am [he]. {cp. Mat 11:3}
13:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me;
and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
I speak not of you all...-
The happiness, of which He spoke (in v.17), did not apply to everyone. Judas would never enjoy the fellowship of brothers encouraging one another in their walk with the Lord, because due to his unbelief, he was not one of those who Christ made wholly clean.
Jesus prepared the disciples for Judas' defection, which would occur...
in fulfillment of Scripture. v.18 quotes Psa 41:9.
Yet, Judas acted of his own free will: "he... hath lifted up his heel against me."
knew, beforehand, His own role as the suffering Servant,
who having 'considered the poor' would impoverish Himself to bear away the 'evil disease' which infected them (as described in the entirety of Psalm 41). cp. 2Cor 8:9
is the "I Am" {in v.19, the word 'he' is absent from the GK text}.
He is the eternally existent One, who declares the end from the beginning, and who cannot be defeated by death (Isa 46:9,10; Joh 8:5810:17,18; 14:29; 16:4).
in spite of Judas' previous fellowship in ministry. v.20
Christ's message remains true, even if the messenger is unbelieving and unfaithful.
13:21 When 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.
troubled - ie., He was agitated within Himself, and grieved (cp. word use in Joh 11:33; 12:27; 14:1).
- - at the hardness of the heart that would betray Him (Psa 41:9), and
- - at the consequences that would befall that former friend. Mat 26:24
testified - This word adds to the solemnity of Jesus' announcement.
betray - GK= paradidomai, to deliver over (ie., to one's enemies).
13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. {ie., John, the author of this Gospel, Joh 21:20,24}
13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him,
that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
13:25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Each man questioned his own heart. Perhaps, each had wrestled with thoughts of self-preservation as the danger of association with Jesus increased. (cp. Joh 11:8,16; 11:57; 12:10)
13:26 Jesus 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.
13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him.
Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
a sop - a morsel, a fragment, ie., of food.
Bread dipped in sauce would customarily be offered first to the guest of honor. [McGee]
In effect, the Lord Jesus made Judas His guest of honor. Psa 41:9; 55:12-14 He offered Judas His friendship, and an opportunity to repent, here, and also later (Mat 26:48-50).
Judas had entertained the suggestion, and yielded himself to Satan's purpose. v.27
do quickly - lit., do more quickly [Wuest].
Even the satanic schemes of His enemies (Mat 26:4,5) must conform to His schedule.
13:28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
13:29 For 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.
13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
...no man at the table knew... because Judas had the bag...-
Even after Jesus identified the betrayer, no one suspected Judas.
As the treasurer for the group, Judas' loyalty seemed unquestionable. They were sure that his last minute business was honorable. They did not know that Judas had been dismissed to serve another master.
he... went... out... and it was night.- This phrase is more than a time marker.
13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said,
Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
13:32 If God be glorified in him,
God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
13:33 Little 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. {Joh 7:34}
13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
13:35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.
therefore, when he was gone out...-
With Judas' departure, the final countdown to the crucifixion had begun.
With Judas' absence, the Lord was free to fully express His heart to His own. [GWms]
now is the Son of man glorified...-
Christ glorified the Father in His earthly life and sacrificial death. cp. 12:27,28; 17:4
The Father glorified the Son in His resurrection and exaltation. 17:5; Heb 1:3; 1Pet 3:22
little children...- Hear His tender love for His own.
He could not address them in this way when Judas was present.
a little while I am with you... where I go ye cannot come.- cp. Joh 16:16-22
He was going to the cross.
There, He must suffer alone, in sorrows beyond our comprehension.
Yet, He takes time to prepare His children for His absence, and to comfort them in their lesser sorrows.
a new commandment... that ye love one another...-
How is His commandment "new"? Because He gave us a new standard of love:
The OT Law commands: "love thy neighbor as thyself." Lev 19:18
The Law of Christ commands: "love... as I have loved you." (ie., with a love beyond love of self).
by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love {GK=agape} one to another (v.35) -
Throughout this passage, the GK word for 'love' refers to the highest form of love, which seeks what is best for the loved one, regardless of the cost to the one who loves. Christ's selfless love, for us, constrains us to live for Him. 2Cor 5:14,15
Christ-like love is a mark of the true disciple of Christ (1Joh 4:9-13).
But our fleshly hearts are incapable of love like His.
Such love must be produced within us by the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16-17,22). This is another aspect of the 'newness' of His commandment to love one another, for the indwelling Spirit of God makes true within us what is true of our Lord (1Joh 2:7-11).
Does Christ's love flow within and through your heart? ...your church? To our shame, the world is often distracted from our Savior, by our lack of love for one another. cp. Gal 5:15,16
(See Joh 17:21 for another mark of the Christian.)
13:36 Simon 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.
Jesus was going to the cross. Peter would eventually be martyred on a cross, but not at this time. See Joh 21:18,19; 2Pet 1:14
13:37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?
I will lay down my life for thy sake.
13:38 Jesus 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.
I will lay down my life for thy sake.- Peter was not alone in this claim. Mat 26:35
He had good intentions, but lacked the ability to follow through.
He placed his confidence in his flesh, and failed. cp. Mat 26:31-36,40-41
till thou hast denied me...- GK= (ap)arneomai, to disown (utterly), to renounce (utterly).
[Some GK texts contain the word variation shown in parenthesis (...) above.]
Jesus predicted Peter's denial, with the same certainty as Judas' betrayal (v.18,19).
Both events would 'come to pass' without fail. Neither man was worthy of the Lord.