John 13 - KJV Foundation Study Bible

13:1 unto the end. This phrase means either “to the last” or “utterly and completely.” What follows in verses 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.

13:8 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 (1 John 1:9).

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

13:18 hath lifted up his heel. Jesus quoted Psalm 41:9 to explain the action of Judas. Lifting up one’s 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.

13:23 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 chest of the person on his left. whom Jesus loved. The disciple is never named in Scripture, but the tradition of the early church designates him as John, the author of this Gospel.

13:33 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 love one another. One of the dominant themes in the apostle John’s writings is love. God loves the whole world (3:16). Jesus repeatedly demonstrates His compassion for people in general and His love for His disciples in particular (10:11; 11:3; 13:1; 15:9).

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, whither goest thou? This question Jesus had already addressed twice before, indicating that Peter completely missed the point of what Jesus said in verses 34 and 35.

13:37 I will lay down my life for thy sake. Peter was ready to die for Jesus. Unfortunately, he was not ready, at this point, to live for Him. 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.