John 13 - The MacArthur Bible Commentary

IV. THE PREPARATION OF THE DISCIPLES BY THE SON OF GOD (13:1-17:26)

A. In the Upper Room (13:1-14:31)

1. Washing feet (13:1-20)

13:1-17:26 In these remaining chapters before His crucifixion, the record looks at Jesus devoting Himself to His own disciples. While chapters 1-12 center on the rejection of Jesus by the nation (cf 1:11), chapters 13-17 center on those who did receive Him (see 1:12). Beginning in chapter 13, Jesus moved completely away from public ministry to private ministry with those who had received Him. Chapters 13-17 were spoken by Jesus as a farewell on the night of His betrayal and arrest to communicate His coming legacy to His followers (chs. 13-16) and pray for them (ch. 17). The Cross was only one day away.

13:1 to the end. Meaning “to perfection” with perfect love. God loves the world (3:16), and sinners (3:16; Matt. 5:44, 45; Titus 3:4) with compassion and common grace, but loves His own with perfect, saving, eternal love.

13:2 supper. Passover on Thursday night after sunset. See Introduction: Interpretive Challenges. the devil . . . the heart of Judas. This does not exonerate Judas, because his wicked heart desired exactly what the devil desired, the death of Jesus. The devil and Judas were in accord.

13:3 going to God. He faced betrayal, agony, and death because He knew He would be exalted to the Father afterward, where He would receive the glory and fellowship He had eternally enjoyed within the Trinity (see 17:4, 5). This was the “joy set before Him” that enabled Him to “endure the cross” (Heb. 12:2).

13:4, 5 The dusty and dirty conditions of the region necessitated the need for foot-washing. Although the disciples most likely would have been happy to wash Jesus’ feet, they could not conceive of washing each other’s feet. This was because in the society of the time foot-washing was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. Peers did not wash one another’s feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love. Luke points out (22:24) that they were arguing about who was the greatest of them, so that none was willing to stoop to wash feet. When Jesus moved to wash their feet, they were shocked. His actions serve also as symbolic of spiritual cleansing (vv. 6-9) and a model of Christian humility (vv. 12-17). Through this action Jesus taught the lesson of selfless service that was exemplified supremely by His death on the Cross.

13:6-10 These proceedings embarrassed all the disciples. While others remained silent, Peter, perhaps on behalf of others (see Matt. 16:13-23), spoke up in indignation that Jesus would stoop so low as to wash his feet. He failed to see beyond the humble service itself to the symbolism of spiritual cleansing involved (v. 7; cf. 1 John 1:7-9). Jesus’ response made the real point of His actions clear: Unless the Lamb of God cleanses a person’s sin (i.e., as portrayed in the symbolism of washing), one can have no part with Him.

13:10 needs only to wash his feet. The cleansing that Christ does at salvation never needs to be repeated-Atonement is complete at that point. But all who have been cleansed by God’s gracious justification need constant washing in the experiential sense as they battle sin in the flesh. Believers are justified and granted imputed righteousness (Phil. 3:8, 9), but they still need sanctification and personal righteousness (Phil. 3:12-14).

13:11, 12 not all clean. This verse refers to Judas (6:70), who was soon to lead the mob to capture Jesus (18:3).

13:15 an example. The word used here suggests both “example” and “pattern” (Heb. 4:11; 8:5; 9:25; James 5:10; 2 Pet. 2:6). Jesus’ purpose in this action was to establish the model of loving humility.

13:17 blessed are you if you do them. Joy is always tied to obedience to God’s revealed Word (see 15:14).

13:18 whom I have chosen. A reference to the twelve disciples whom the Lord had selected (see 15:16), whom the Lord knew perfectly, including Judas, who was chosen that the prophecy of Psalm 41:9 would be fulfilled.

2. Announcing the betrayal (13:21-30)

13:21 troubled. For the meaning of this word, see note on 12:27.

13:23 one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. This is the first reference to John the apostle, the author of the Gospel (see Introduction: Author and Date). He specifically mentioned himself at the Cross (19:26, 27), at the empty tomb (20:2-9), by the Sea of Tiberias (21:1, 20-23), and in the next to last verse where he is referenced as the author of the Gospel (21:24).

13:26 He gave it to Judas Iscariot. The host at a feast (whose role was filled by Jesus) would dip into a common bowl and pull out a particularly tasty bit and pass it to a guest as a special mark of honor or friendship. Because Jesus passed it so easily to Judas, it has been suggested that he was seated near the Lord in a place of honor. Jesus was demonstrating a final gesture of His love for Judas even though he would betray Him.

13:27 Satan entered him. Judas was personally possessed by Satan himself in his betrayal of Jesus. See note on verse 2.

13:30 it was night. Although this was a historical reminiscence of John, the phrase may also be imbued with profound theological implications. It was the hour for Judas to be handed over completely to the power of darkness (Satancf. ; Luke 22:53).

3. Discourse on Christ’s Departure (13:31-14:31)

13:31-33 glorified. With Judas gone, the final events were set in motion. Rather than looking at the agony of the Cross, Jesus looked past the Cross, anticipating the glory that He would have with the Father when it was over (see 17:4, 5; Heb. 12:2).

13:33 as I said to the Jews. That statement is recorded in 8:21.

13:34 A new commandment . . . as I have loved you. The commandment to love was not new. Deuteronomy 6:5 commanded love for God and Leviticus 19:18 commanded loving one’s neighbor as oneself (cf. Matt. 22:34-40; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14; James 2:8). However, Jesus’ command regarding love presented a distinctly new standard for two reasons: (1) it was sacrificial love modeled after His love (“as I loved you”cf ; 15:13), and (2) it is produced through the New Covenant by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Jer. 31:29-34; Ezek. 36:24-26; Gal. 5:22).

13:34, 35 Having announced His departure and having insisted that His disciples could not come with Him, Jesus began to lay out what He expected of them after His leaving. Love is to serve as the distinguishing characteristic of discipleship (v. 35; cf. 1 John 2:7-11; 3:10-12; 4:7-10, 20, 21).

13:36 you cannot follow. Jesus’ work was nearly finished, theirs was just beginning (Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47). Particularly, Peter had a work to do (see notes on 21:15-19 ). Only Jesus, as the sinless sacrifice for the trespasses of the world, could go to the Cross and die (1 Pet. 2:22-24). Also, only He could be glorified in the presence of the Father with the glory that He possessed before His Incarnation (see 12:41; 17:1-5).

13:38 See 18:25-27; cf. Matthew 26:71-75; Mark 14:69-72; Luke 22:54-62.