John 13 - NKJV Study Bible

13:1 To the end means either “to the last” or “utterly and completely.” What follows in vv. 1–11 demonstrates Jesus’ complete love. Jesus loved His disciples, even though He knew that one would betray Him, another would deny Him, and all would desert Him for a time.

13:2 Being ended may also be translated “having begun.” It was customary for slaves to wash guests’ feet as the guests arrived, before they sat down to eat (vv. 4,5). In any case, it appears that the supper had not ended, but was in progress. The statement of Jesus’ complete love in v. 1 is contrasted with the fact that Judas would soon betray Him.

13:4 His garments: Jesus laid aside His outer garment, which would have impeded His movements. towel: By putting on an apron, Christ looked like the slave to whom the task of washing the feet of guests was assigned. Though the disciples realized what Jesus was doing, none of them offered himself for the task. Servanthood was not on their minds. Jesus loved them knowing all about them, including the worst one of them, Judas.

13:8 no part with Me: The washing was a symbol of spiritual cleansing (vv. 10,11). If Peter did not participate in the cleansing, he would not enjoy fellowship with Christ (see 1 John 1:9).

13:9,10 but also my hands and my head: Given Jesus’ dramatic statement, Peter had no choice but to submit. Only this time he went too far in the other direction. At first he wanted to tell the Lord what to do (v. 8). Now he wanted to dictate the manner in which Jesus did it. But Jesus told him he did not need a bath; he only needed Jesus to wash his feet that were dusty from the road. This is symbolic. A believer has already been “cleansed.” He or she only needs the cleansing of daily sins that comes through confession (see 1 John 1:9). Thus Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet not only is a model of service, but it represents the ultimate in service—forgiveness of sins.

13:11 You are not all clean: This is the second indication of the presence of a traitor among the apostles (6:70). Apparently this comment did not attract much attention.

13:13 Teacher and Lord were the ordinary titles of respect given to a rabbi.

13:14,15 you also ought to wash one another’s feet: The Lord was using His practical action to give an example of love to His disciples (v. 1).

13:18 Jesus quoted Ps. 41:9 to explain the action of Judas. Lifting up his heel was a gesture of insult, or a preparation to kick. The blow had not yet been given. This was the attitude of Judas at that moment. He was eating with the disciples, but he was ready to strike.

13:21 troubled: Faced with bereavement (11:33), His own death (12:27), and betrayal, Jesus was deeply stirred.

13:23 leaning on Jesus’ bosom: At this time people did not generally sit at a table to eat. They reclined on the left side of a low platform, resting on the left elbow and eating with the right hand, their feet extended outward. Reclining in such a way, a man’s head was near the bosom of the person on his left. The disciple whom Jesus loved is never named in Scripture, but the tradition of the early church designates him as John, the author of this Gospel.

13:24 Peter . . . motioned to him to ask: Evidently Peter was not sitting next to Jesus. He was nearer to John, so he beckoned John to ask Jesus who was going to betray Him.

13:27 First, the devil put ideas in the head of Judas (v. 2); here Satan entered Judas. Note that Judas’s actions were the result of the deepest thoughts of his heart.

13:30 it was night: Not only did Judas go out into the darkness of the night, he had also entered into spiritual darkness, separated from Jesus, the Light of the World (8:12; 9:5).

13:31,32 the Son of Man is glorified: Jesus would be revealed as the divine Son of God and Savior of the world by His death and resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. God would be glorified in Him in that God’s love, truth, and righteousness would be revealed in what Jesus was doing.

13:33 The time had come for Jesus to announce His departure to His disciples. Little children is an expression of tender affection used nowhere else in the Gospels. John did not forget the expression; he used it repeatedly in 1 John.

13:34 The command to love was new because Jesus gave it a new standard. Moses said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (see Lev. 19:18). Jesus said the new standard was as I have loved you. Jesus gave His disciples the example of love that they were to follow (vv. 1–17).

13:35 By this: Unbelievers recognize Jesus’ disciples not by their doctrinal distinctives, nor by dramatic miracles, nor even by their love for the lost. They recognize His disciples by their deeds of love for one another.

13:36 Lord, where are You going: This question, which Jesus had already addressed twice before, indicates that Peter completely missed the point of what Jesus said in vv. 34,35.

13:37 I will lay down my life: Peter was ready to die for Jesus. Unfortunately, he was not ready, at this point, to live for Him. He was ready to attack single-handed a cohort of soldiers with his sword (see 18:10), but he was not willing to wash the feet of his brothers as Jesus had just done (see 13:4). Actually, Peter had things backwards. Christ was about to lay down His life for Peter, instead of Peter laying down his life for Christ. In spite of all this, Christ did not give up on Peter (see Luke 22:31,32). Later Peter would die for Christ (21:18,19). Church tradition states that Peter was crucified upside down, at his request, for he felt himself unworthy to be crucified like his Lord.

13:38 till you have denied Me three times: At these words of Jesus, Peter was stunned and said nothing. He is not mentioned again until 18:10.