Michael's Abbey Bible Study - Gospel of John Chapter 13

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. For a time reference we are only told this was before the Passover feast. From previous passages we know this couldn't be more than five days before. It is likely that this was two or three days prior. The context for the events and teaching that follow is that Jesus had the fact that He was departing soon in mind. Thus the things He would do and say over the next few chapters were meant to prepare His disciples for the coming events and their ministry after He departed.
Loving to the end can be taken two ways both in English and Greek. It can mean until the end of one's life. Or it can mean to the utmost or eternally. And either would fit in the context. However, since Jesus is the eternal God, both meanings are the same in Him. He chose them and loved them eternally.
2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, The only reason that the devil was able to put anything into his heart was that Judas made room for the devil by choosing sin and rejecting Jesus. Sin leads us away from God. It always starts as a little sin, and it is encouraged to grow by the enemy. Scripture leads us to God. Others can help us grow or can mislead us.
Romans 16:17-18 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
Discernment is the gift of the Spirit helps us to know which type a person is. But all of us have scripture. Knowing scripture is the way to see through the fakers and deceivers. Do not be deceived. They would not be able to mislead if they were easy to spot. They are often the ones that everyone in a church thinks are such good people. We ought to know that no one is good, not one. Even those with the gift of discernment can be deceived. Knowing scripture well is the best defense against the false doctrine of the deceivers, and the only way to detect the difference between what sounds good but contradicts scripture and what really is good and scriptural.
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, That God had given all things into Jesus' hands is a summary of a great many things, such as all things were created by Jesus, and that Jesus was the way to salvation and reconciliation with God. But most importantly, this means that Jesus was a willing sacrifice. Also, this verse also emphasizes that Jesus came from the Father and was returning to Him very soon, and this was a motivation for the following instruction to the disciples.
4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. 5 Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. To wash the feet was the most menial and demeaning duty in a household. For that reason the duty was given to the lowest servant or slave. Most roads were dirt, and even the stone roads were coated with dust and animal dung making the feet of a person very dirty and smelly. Since tables were low and people stretched out on cushions nearly laying down, their feet would be near others making it very important that they be cleaned when coming inside. This also kept the cushions from becoming soiled. The one doing this duty had to strip down to prevent their clothes from becoming soiled, which was itself an undignified act. The stripping of the clothing of those being crucified was part of the public humiliation. Wrapping the towel around themselves reduced this and made the drying easier. Then the feet of all who entered the building would be washed and dried.
It is certain that everyone would have already had their feet washed before reclining at the table for supper. Thus, it was not really necessary for Jesus to strip down to wash their feet. That He did this exactly as would have been done when they entered the building without regard for His own dignity was important to the demonstration.
Some churches will do foot washing today, having leaders wash the feet of the congregation present. However, these always miss the point entirely. These leaders never shed their leadership role as Jesus did, but maintain it. They do not shed their dignity as Jesus did, but maintain their dignity. In essence, this is a false show like the Pharisees and not in any way like the example of Jesus.If they wanted to act like Jesus a better example would be for the leaders to do everything make a meal for the church, especially all the cleaning up including sweeping up, taking out the trash, and putting everything away. To be clear, this should all only be done by the leaders. Any janitors or other staff should be among the served, not the serving. This demonstrates the humility and service of Jesus in a like manner. Another possibility would be to listen to others like the leaders expect to be listened to. The point is to literally take the role of the lowest and treat others as senior to themselves without any excuses like "my time is too valuable." Jesus' time his last week before the crucifixion was far more valuable than any of ours, and His teaching better. Yet He took the time to do it. Western churches don't this right.
6 So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" Most of the disciples did not question Jesus, even though it is certain they were confused by this. However, Jesus would scold them when they didn't understand something they should have, as documented in other gospels. Thus they were reluctant to ask questions even though they had not yet been given an explanation out of fear it was something they had missed. But Peter spoke up questioning Jesus' actions.
7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter." Jesus does not rebuke Peter as He had on many past occasions for things they should have understood because he had previously instructed them. But in this instance they had not been instructed on this teaching yet. And Jesus knew they wouldn't really understand until later, like much of what he taught them in this chapter and those that follow.
8 Peter *said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Peter was not willing to accept Jesus' assurance that he would understand later. He wanted to know now because this contradicted his cultural norms, and He could not accept that without understanding it first. So he challenged Jesus from his cultural perspective. He ought to have known that his culture didn't matter in light of the truth spoken and demonstrated by Jesus. But we all make this same mistake today. We should always be aware that our culture and experience is so much a part of us it takes deliberate effort to be aware of it, and they come from a fallen world that is opposed to God. So we must do our best to set that aside and really understand what scripture is telling us. If we are Jesus' disciples then we are no longer of this world.
9 Simon Peter *said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." The absurdity of what Jesus was doing in the context of that culture overcame Peter. He responded with absurdity. The CEO of Hormel going to one of their farms and shoveling pig dung would be less absurd than this.
10 Jesus *said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." Jesus responds with gentle and patient correction. Many times Jesus would get angry with their failings, especially failing to understand what they had been taught before. This happened enough that they became afraid to ask Him what He meant like in Mark 9:32. But this time it was a new teaching, and Jesus knew it would be hard for them to grasp. So he was patient and walked them through it with His demonstration, instruction, and here with correction.
11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." Jesus finished His statement in verse 10 with a comment on Judas. Because he was planning to betray Jesus, cleaning the outside could not make him clean.
12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? Taking up his garments meant getting dressed. Thus Jesus was back in His attire at the head of the table. This was the normal status of the teacher with his disciples. But Jesus had continued to teach while in His undignified state and doing the duty of the lowest of the low. Now with things back to normal He begins to teach them what this really meant.
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. The disciples called him Rabbi from the beginning, which means teacher. And they learned He was the Messiah and Son of God, making the title Lord appropriate. You are right is literally "You say well".
14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. The washing of the disciples' feet was not a merely symbolic act as those that mimic it today are doing. To do that specific act today is a parody because it is not the same thing. Our streets are clean and we wear closed shoes and socks. So there is no menial duty to perform today. The point was that no task or duty should be beneath anyone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus, especially anyone who claims to be a leader. While a pastor or other church staff member has many demands on their time, so does everyone no matter what their role is. They must be willing to do anything, no matter how menial the secular society says it is. This is not to say it should be a regular duty as there are other responsibilities only they can do, while others can do these tasks. But if they never take out the trash, wash out garbage cans, clean toilets, or any of the other tasks that today's culture view as menial then they are violating this instruction of Jesus. When in leadership of any type our sin nature will race to inflate our egos and make us arrogant. That is a threat to the soul of that leader as an arrogant person cannot ask for or even think they need forgiveness.
Humility is what Jesus was trying to teach. And it is an effective leadership strategy. Chief Master Sergeant Menza would regularly show up at the end of the duty day in one of the many workshops under him and grab a broom. While helping with the menial and necessary task of cleaning up he would talk with his troops, meaningfully engaging with all ranks. Because of this practice he didn't need to give orders. By his regular demonstration of humility his troops were rabidly loyal and deliberately sought ways to make things better on their own. No one wanted to disappoint him. In a modern way, he washed their feet.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. Continuing His warning against arrogance, Jesus states two truisms. Previously Jesus used these to describe His own relationship with the Father. Now they are applied to His disciples' relationship to Him. The first is clearly reflective of the master-slave relationship between disciples and the Christ both then and now. And while Jesus sent out his disciples on their own during His time on earth, the second strongly refers to the time in the very near future where the disciples will be the ones sent on their own as Jesus was.
17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. These things we should know are the truths that even as disciples of Jesus we are not greater than Him. The things we are to do are operating in humility, being willing to do the most menial and demeaning task no matter how "high" we are in position, and always aware of our true status as completely dependent on Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.
Heresy is born out of arrogance, not humility. When someone thinks too highly of themselves or their own reasoning they will set it equal to or above scripture. Scripture is God-breathed, inspired by the Holy Spirit. We do well to understand it. For someone to set their own reasoning on the same level or higher is to say they know better than God, which is in itself heresy.
18 I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.' Jesus' warnings against becoming arrogant and the blessing for following the instructions to avoid it did not apply to Judas who was going to betray Jesus.
What is notable is that Jesus states He deliberately chose the twelve including Judas, but it was not because they were good people or would be good disciples. Judas was chosen with the foreknowledge that Judas would become selfish, a thief, and would reject God rather than deal with his own sin, ultimately betraying Jesus. Thus Judas was not a mistake but a necessary choice to bring about the Christ event and thus fulfill the scriptures.
Jesus quotes Psalm 41:9 as an example of scripture being fulfilled. And He will fulfill it in verse 26. But Judas was chosen to fulfill all the scripture about the suffering Messiah, not just this one pointing to the traitor.
19 From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. In other words, Jesus was saying He would be prophesying about what is about to happen so they would later connect the dots and know He was the Messiah and Son of God. Jesus would also fulfill numerous prophecies in scripture. And the vast majority of them were out of the control of a mere man.
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." In this verse Jesus again referred to the time when He would no longer be on earth and the disciples would be His messengers spreading the gospel. Receiving one who Jesus sends is to receive their message, which is the gospel.
21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me." What Jesus had said subtly in verses 10 and 18 He now says explicitly, although he didn't yet name Judas. Betray is literally "deliver Him" or "hand Him over".
It is notable that even though Jesus chose Judas knowing the role he would play in His becoming the perfect sacrifice, it still troubled Him that one He loved would do something so heinous. Even foreknowledge didn't prevent this reaction. We should remember this as we live our lives. Our sin still grieves Him, which should be an added motivation to not do it.
22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. In other words, they didn't know what to think and were communicating non-verbally with each other as people do when someone drops a bombshell in the conversation.
While scripture explicitly states they didn't know who Jesus was referring to, they also had no clue what He meant by betrayal. Since even after Judas is identified their reaction in verses 28-29 make it clear they did not think it was a big deal. Most likely they thought it was in a little thing, like Peter's denial or not following instructions fully. Or they may have thought Jesus was using hyperbole.
23 There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. This was the equivalent of a bro-hug today. In that culture and time there were no taboos regarding men being physically close like this. The assertions by "progressive Christians" that this is evidence of homosexuality are blatantly lying to support their heresies and are contradicted by the secular historical record.
The one who Jesus loved is John, one of the inner circle of three, and is identified as the author of this gospel in 21:20-24. He is the only one of the gospel writers who makes a self-identification, albeit an indirect one.
24 So Simon Peter *gestured to him, and *said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking." This verse is narrative of what transpired. It is interesting that Peter would ask John who Jesus meant. This is likely only because John and Jesus were close at that moment. John, his brother James and Peter were the inner circle of 3. So it would be natural to inquire of one of them. However, Jesus was right there and it would make more sense to ask Him. What this likely represents is a reluctance to ask Jesus for clarification because in the past their failure to understand when they should had been met with anger.
25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus' bosom, *said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" John didn't know, and had no fear to ask Jesus directly, albeit with great respect despite being so close.
26 Jesus then *answered, "That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him." So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Morsel, psomion in Greek, is literally a small piece of bread. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Psalm 41:9 that was quoted by Jesus in verse 18.
There was no great reaction from the other disciples. If they had understood how great a betrayal Judas was planning it seems certain they would have been outraged and taken some action against Judas.
27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, "What you do, do quickly." The only reason that the Satan was able to enter Judas was because he made room for Satan by rejecting Jesus and choosing his sin instead. This left him empty, swept clean, and inviting to evil like Jesus described in Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26. There are no instructions or narratives on casting demons out of Christians anywhere in the New Testament. That is only for the unsaved who have been possessed. For Christians, the instructions are to resist. Demons can only try to influence, not possess Christians. But we don't have to listen.
Jesus' comment to Judas made it clear that He knew what was in Judas' heart. At this point Judas goes to conspire with the Jewish leaders. This was the planning to later hand Jesus over to them.
28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. Jesus' comment to Judas was not clear to mere humans as we cannot know what is in a person's heart. It probably appeared that Jesus was telling Judas to execute a previously discussed plan. Ironically, Jesus had discussed the plan before with all of them but they didn't know it.
29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, "Buy the things we have need of for the feast"; or else, that he should give something to the poor. It is natural that the other disciples would assume that a private instruction had to do with that individual's talents and/or duties. And Judas' talent with money and his duty keeping the money box made that a logical assumption.
30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night. Since Judas heard what Jesus said and did, it would seem he knew that Jesus was on to him. Most people when found out in a conspiracy will try to deny it, or at least pull back. But Judas had fallen down very far.
31 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus *said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; After Judas left Jesus continued to teach. It could be that these were subjects that were not for Judas' ears, especially considering who was inside Judas.
Son of Man is a term for the Messiah in prophecy, and the title Jesus used the most for himself. Jesus was glorified in His death and resurrection. So He was saying that this was at hand and his time with them was up. But more importantly, this was for His glory, and for the glory of the Father.
32 if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. The "if" in this verse is not suggesting this may not happen. It is a form of logical argument. Since God, implying the Father, is glorified in the Son from what the Son is about to do, the Son will be glorified in the Father. This seems to be specifically about the Father raising the Son from the dead. But it may be about or also about a more general glorification from the existence in the trinity. That this will happen immediately means that these things are in the process of happening at that time. Even as Jesus was teaching here Judas was in the process of betraying Him.
Some early manuscripts do not have this verse, while other early manuscripts do. Textual criticism points clearly to this verse belonging in scripture. Although it's omission does not alter the meaning of the text.
33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' Jesus uses "little children" metaphorically to indicate their level of spiritual maturity. In the turbulence to come as Jesus leaves them they would grow up very fast.
Referring to his statement to the Jewish leaders in 7:34, Jesus repeats it. He is going to heaven, and they cannot follow, at least not yet.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. This new commandment does not replace any of the other commandments, especially the highest two that Jesus said were the basis of the entire law of Moses. Those were to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. And a neighbor is defined as anyone we come across, even unbelievers. This new commandment is placed between those two. Within the Christian community we are to love each other at a higher level than we love our neighbor, which is to love as Jesus loved the disciples, and as He loves us as well.
It never ceases to amaze me when someone who claims to be a Christian is surprised that Jesus gave commandments. But considering that a majority of churches are teaching a false feel-good gospel in the west I really should expect it. Clearly they haven't even read the gospels, let alone the rest of the Bible.
35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." While loving each other as Christians is needed for community, harmony, and mutual edification, its main purpose is to be our calling card and I.D. as Christians. In other words, it is a big part of our witness to a fallen world, perhaps the biggest part.
However, the commandment is for Christians to love each other as Jesus loved the disciples. And real love requires correction, rebuke, and discipline. This is why Jesus corrected and rebuked His disciples, sometimes harshly. Let's look at what Proverbs has to say about correction.
Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 13:24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
God disciplines us as a father would if we are His. A parent who loves their child disciplines them. Real love requires reproof, correction, and discipline. Anyone who is unwilling to do so is not following Jesus' commandment. Anyone who never does it is not living as a Christian.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
Paul's commands are to preach the word, reprove, rebuke, and exhort. Exhorting is to strongly encourage, and should not be forgotten. Beyond these commands there are two key points. The first is that these should be done with great patience. This does not mean never doing them, or waiting until they find out on their own. And the second is to do them with instruction. It is not enough to point out where someone has fallen short. It must be accompanied by instruction, such as what scripture says, how to do it right, and how to to avoid it in the future. These two points are best followed if we check our own motivation. Wrong motivation is focused on the corrections. Right motivation is for the benefit of one's brother out of our love for them, helping them to be better Christians. Real love for another Christian requires we do these things for them. The next three verses of 2 Timothy have a warning.
2 Timothy 4:3-5 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
If we find ourselves never corrected, never challenged, never reproved, then that is a huge red flag that we have surrounded ourselves with false Christians. If God never corrects us, then we are not His. If everything in our lives is smooth, then Satan thinks we aren't a threat or are an ally. If we are always comfortable, then we are on the wrong road. We all need correction. Anyone who says they don't is denying their sin is sin, or lying about having sinned at all. A person who does that is not a Christian.
36 Simon Peter *said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later." Most commentators make the assumption that Peter does not know where Jesus is going when He asks this question. And while this may be true, verse 37 makes a different point of view possible and even likely. It could be that Peter was trying to get Jesus to say it plainly and directly. Thus Peter could plainly make the case for what he wanted. Jesus reply is a repeat of what he had said at least twice before with the addition of what is only a clarification. This was that not being able to follow Him was only a limitation for now, and that Peter would follow later.
37 Peter *said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You." It appears Peter did understand Jesus was talking about dying and going to heaven. But it seems he didn't want his time with Jesus to end, and was willing to die with Him to maintain the type of relationship they had while Jesus was on the earth. Alternatively, Peter's expression could merely be a willingness to risk his own life to prevent Jesus from leaving, such as in an armed rebellion of a conquering Messiah. But this seems unlikely in the context.
38 Jesus *answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times. Jesus reply is devastating. However, it is not the rebuke of Peter's willingness to die for Him that some commentators and pastors make it out to be. For someone operating in the sure knowledge and faith in God and heaven, death is not a deterrent. Being in heaven with God is infinitely better than this life, even now before the new heaven and new earth. As Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. What Jesus was pointing out is it is much harder to live for Him than to die for Him. Even assuming one is sincere in the willingness to die for Jesus and not just saying empty words, it is still a much greater challenge to live for Jesus. The historical record in both Christian and secular sources supports this as people failed at living for Jesus much more than they failed to die for Him.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation.

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