John 13 - NLT Student Life Application Study Bible

13:1–17:26 Loved Anyway John 13–17 records what Jesus said to his disciples on the night before his death. With only the disciples as his audience, he gave them final instructions to prepare them for his death and resurrection—events that would change their lives forever. Jesus knew he would be betrayed by one of his disciples, denied by another, and deserted by all of them for a time. Still, he “loved them to the very end” (13:1). God knows us completely, just as Jesus knew his disciples. He knows the sins we have committed and the ones we will commit. Still, he loves us more than we could ever imagine.

13:3-5 Humble Service Washing the feet of guests upon their arrival was a job for a household servant. Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist, as the lowliest slave would do, and washed and dried his disciples’ feet. If even he, God in the flesh, served so willingly and humbly, we—his followers—must also be willing to serve in any way that glorifies God.

13:21-27 Judas’s Betrayal Apparently, Judas wasn’t the obvious betrayer. After all, the disciples trusted him enough to appoint him to be the one to manage their money (12:4-6; 13:29). Satan’s part in the betrayal doesn’t remove any of the responsibility from Judas, since he made the choice to give in to Satan’s prompting. Disillusioned because Jesus was talking about dying rather than setting up a political kingdom, Judas may have been trying to force Jesus’ hand and make him use his power to prove he was the Messiah. Or maybe he no longer believed that Jesus was God’s chosen one because Jesus wasn’t doing what Judas thought he should do. In any case, Satan probably assumed that Jesus’ death would end his mission and throw off God’s plan.

13:34 Love Each Other Love is more than simply a warm feeling; love reveals itself in action. To love others was something God had told his people all along (see Leviticus 19:18), but to love others as much as Jesus loved others was revolutionary. Now we are to love others based on Jesus’ sacrificial love for us. Such love will not only bring unbelievers to faith in Jesus but also keep believers strong and united in a world hostile to God. We are to be living examples of God’s love, and Jesus has shown us how. God promises that the Holy Spirit will pour his love into the hearts of his people, and this is what will enable us to love others (Romans 5:5).