John 13 - NIV First Century Study Bible

13:1–17 Washing the feet at Passover. There are questions about the nature of this meal and when exactly it took place (see notes on Mt 26:26–30; Mk 14:22–24). John’s Gospel differs from the Synoptic Gospels in that this final meal with the disciples is not specified as a Passover meal (see note on Jn 18:28). The meal clearly parallels the meal described in the Synoptic accounts, and it’s likely the writers were describing the same event. Jesus reversed all social expectations, taking on the position of a household servant or slave. The washing was not for the purpose of ritual purity but was an expression of the posture of true discipleship.

13:18 Turned against me. Judas’s betrayal of Jesus was reminiscent of Absalom’s conspiracy against the kingship of David (see 2Sa 15:1–12). Jesus may have been making this connection with David by quoting from Ps 41:9, which the rabbis also connected with Absalom’s betrayal of David. (Arnold, Backgrounds Commentary, 2:133.)

13:23 The disciple whom Jesus loved. Though not known with certainty, this person is usually identified as John the son of Zebedee, the author traditionally associated with the Gospel of John. The fact that this disciple was able to lean on Jesus reflects first-century dining practices in which participants leaned on their left elbows on the floor while eating out of common bowls on a low table. The dining room at the site of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, was arranged to accommodate the same style of dining.

13:29 Give something to the poor. Almsgiving was part of Biblical worship (see note on Dt 15:11). In Jewish tradition, the Hebrew word for “righteous” (zedekah) was also used for acts of justice, such as almsgiving (see Pr 11:4, “righteousness”). The Jewish book of Tobit, which predated Jesus, says, “Give alms from your resources; and when you give alms, do not let your eye be envious, nor turn your face from any of the poor, and then the face of God shall not be turned away from you.” (Tobit 4:7.)

13:34–35 Love one another. Rabbi Hillel also preached love: “Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving mankind and bringing them nigh to the law.” (Mishnah Avot 1:12.) Jesus preached love of God, love of neighbor, love of the enemy and love for one another. Here he said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Jesus’ love was ultimately expressed in his willingness to sacrifice his own life.