John 13 - NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible

13:1—20:31 Jesus’ Self-Disclosure in His Cross and Exaltation. Chs. 13–17 explain before the events the significance of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation that take place in chs. 18–20.

13:1 Passover. See note on 2:13. hour had come. See note on 12:23. loved his own . . . loved them. The footwashing here anticipates his deep love for “his own” (cf. 15:19) displayed in the cross (cf. 15:13). world. See notes on 1:9,29; 3:16. to the end. Either (1) utterly or (2) to the very end of his life.

13:1–17 Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet. Jesus’ stunning, humble act (vv. 4–5) displays his love (v. 1), symbolizes spiritual cleansing (vv. 6–10), and models how Jesus’ disciples should serve each other (vv. 12–17). His footwashing points to his death on the cross: the exalted Messiah assumes the role of the despised servant to cleanse others.

13:1–30 The Last Supper. Jesus and his disciples eat a Passover meal on Thursday evening (though to develop a consistent chronology of Jesus’ last week before his crucifixion has proved challenging to scholars; (see note on 18:28; see also Matt 26:17–29; Mark 14:12–25; Luke 22:7–20).

13:2 devil. The plot against Jesus is satanic. betray. See vv. 18–30; 18:2–13.

13:3 all things under his power. Some might expect Jesus to use his supreme power and rank to defeat the devil (and Judas) in an immediate and flashy confrontation. Instead, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet (including Judas’s).

13:4–5 Jesus adopts the dress and duty of the lowliest of menial servants. Doubtless the disciples would have been happy to wash Jesus’ feet, but they could not conceive of washing one another’s feet let alone their master washing their feet. Jesus is a servant (Mark 10:45; Luke 22:27; Phil 2:7).

13:6–10 All the disciples are extremely embarrassed by Jesus’ footwashing, and all but Peter keep silent. Once again, people misunderstand Jesus (see Introduction: Characteristics and Themes, 7): Peter’s well-motivated objection is totally ignorant of his Master’s course to the cross, the means of the cleansing that this footwashing foreshadows (cf. Matt 16:22–23).

13:7 later. After Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation.

13:8 wash . . . wash. Peter thinks that Jesus’ footwashing is not socially fitting, but for Jesus it symbolizes his washing away a person’s sin.

13:9 Unrestrained exuberance (cf. Matt 17:4).

13:10 need only to wash their feet. Some manuscripts read “do not need to wash.” The disciples have already “had a bath,” so they do not need a complete washing since “their whole body is clean.” The footwashing in vv. 9–10 could symbolize either (1) their complete washing (see note on v. 8) or (2) an additional cleansing, the type they constantly need for sins they commit after Jesus has initially and fundamentally cleansed them from their sin (1 John 1:9); people who have taken a bath and are basically clean may need to wash their feet after a short walk on dusty roads, even though another bath is unnecessary. Most English translations support the second option; the alternate reading (“do not need to wash”) supports the first. not every one of you. Judas is not “clean” (v. 11).

13:14–15 The heart of Jesus’ command is humility and helpfulness toward brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Tim 5:10). Cf. vv. 34–35; Gal 5:13.

13:16 Jesus also applies this proverb elsewhere (15:20; Matt 10:24; Luke 6:40).

13:17 these things. Probably vv. 14–15. do them. See note on 8:31.

13:18 fulfill. See 17:12. Jesus repeats David’s experience in Ps 41:9 at a deeper, climactic level in the history of salvation. Because of passages like 2 Sam 7:12–16 and Ps 2, David became a “type,” or model, of his greater Son, the promised Messiah. This does not mean that everything that happened to David must find its echo in Jesus, but the NT understands many of the broad themes of his life that way (cf. Ps 16:8–11 in Acts 2:24–28; Ps 45:6–7 in Heb 1:8–9), especially those that focus on his suffering, weakness, betrayal by friends, and discouragement (e.g., Ps 22 in the passion narratives).

13:18–30 Jesus Predicts His Betrayal. Jesus leaves no doubt that he remains in charge of his own destiny, in submission to his Father’s will. John has repeatedly warned about the treachery of someone within the ranks of the Twelve (vv. 2, 10–11; 6:70–71; 12:4).

13:19 so that. Jesus informs his disciples about Judas’s impending betrayal of him (cf. 14:29) with the goal of enabling them to see, after the event, that Jesus was neither the pawn of a cheap plot nor a sad victim. Rather, Judas’s treachery serves the redemptive purposes of the mission on which the Father sent Jesus (v. 20). Such knowledge will settle the disciples’ faith. I am who I am. See notes on 6:35; 8:24.

13:20 See Matt 10:40. anyone I send. Anticipates 20:21. me . . . the one who sent me. See 5:19–30 and notes.

13:23 disciple whom Jesus loved. Also in 19:26–27; 20:2–9; 21:7, 20–25; probably John, the author of this Gospel (see Introduction: Author). The expression does not mean that Jesus did not love the others; it may be the author’s way to avoid giving even the impression of sharing a platform with Jesus. It also testifies to one disciple’s profound sense of being loved by Jesus, even as it reminds readers that the author is an eyewitness of the events he recounts.

13:26 Apparently Jesus answers so quietly that the other disciples cannot hear because they do not know why Judas leaves (vv. 28–29).

13:27 entered. Probably signifies thorough possession. quickly. Judas may as well get on with his treachery and be done with it. Jesus voluntarily lays down his life (10:18).

13:30 night. Ominous; more than just a time indicator (see note on 3:2). Judas was swallowed up by the most awful darkness (Matt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30) and heading to his own place (Acts 1:25; see notes on John 1:5; 3:19). For Jesus, this was the “hour—when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53).

13:31—16:33 The Farewell Discourse. Jesus explains the significance of his death and exaltation and the role of the promised Holy Spirit, whom Jesus gives to believers after his exaltation.

13:31 the Son of Man is glorified. See note on 12:23. God is glorified in him. Jesus’ obedience, sacrificial death, resurrection, and exaltation glorify God.

13:31–32 Now . . . at once. Judas’s departure puts the machinery of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution into motion.

13:31–38 Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial. Jesus tells his disciples that he will soon depart. Then he predicts that Peter will deny him three times.

13:32 himself. Probably the Father.

13:33 just as I told the Jews. See 7:34 and note. you cannot come. Now; but they can later (see v. 36). Jesus’ tone is different here since he will prepare a place for his followers (14:1–3), who will see him and live (14:19; contrast 8:21).

13:34 new command . . . As I have loved you. The standard is no longer how we love ourselves (Lev 19:18; Matt 22:37–40) but how Jesus loves us (see notes on 1 John 2:7–8). Jesus displays his love in footwashing (see vv. 1–17 and notes) and supremely in the cross (see 15:13). Cf. 15:13,17.

13:35 love. A distinguishing mark of Jesus’ followers (1 John 4:7–12, 19–21).

13:36 See note on 16:5. later. See 21:18–19.

13:38 Will you really lay down your life for me? The irony is that (1) Jesus is laying down his life for Peter (10:11,15, 17–18) and (2) Peter will lay down his life for Jesus some 30 years later (see 21:18–19 and notes).