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John 13He loved them to the end

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Before you read

Who is speaking?
Jesus, at supper with his disciples on the night before he died.
Who is listening?
The Twelve — including Judas, who will leave during the meal, and Peter, who protests.
What should I watch for?
Jesus acts out what his death will mean: the Master kneels to wash his disciples' feet, and then gives them a new commandment.

Tap a verse to understand it.

Jesus washes the disciples' feet1Before the festival day of the pasch, Jesus knowing that his hour was come, that he should pass out of this world to the Father: having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2And when supper was done, (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him,) 3Knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and goeth to God; 4He riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments, and having taken a towel, girded himself. 5After that, he putteth water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7Jesus answered, and said to him: What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8Peter saith to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me. 9Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. 10Jesus saith to him: He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all. 11For he knew who he was that would betray him; therefore he said: You are not all clean. I have given you an example12Then after he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, being set down again, he said to them: Know you what I have done to you? 13You call me Master, and Lord; and you say well, for so I am. 14If then I being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · Public Domain

After you read

What just happened?

Knowing his hour had come, Jesus rose from supper, laid aside his garments, girded himself with a towel and washed his disciples' feet. Peter refused until Jesus told him he would otherwise have no part with him. Jesus told them to do as he had done. Troubled, he announced that one of them would betray him, gave a morsel to Judas, and Judas went out into the night. Jesus then gave them a new commandment, to love one another as he had loved them, and told Peter that before the cock crowed he would deny him three times.

Key idea

Jesus' love goes to the end — to the lowest service and to the Cross — and he makes that love the mark of his disciples.

Bible Lens

Look at John 13 through…

The heart of it in plain words

Explanation (AI-assisted)

On his last night, Jesus does the job of the lowest servant and washes his friends' feet, including the one who will betray him. Then he says: love one another the way I have loved you.

People you met

  • Jesus — Master and Lord, who serves
  • Peter — Refuses, then asks to be washed entirely; promises to die for Jesus
  • The disciple whom Jesus loved — Reclines next to Jesus; tradition identifies him with John
  • Judas Iscariot — Receives the morsel and goes out

Places

  • The supper room in Jerusalem — John does not name it; the other Gospels describe a large upper room (Luke 22:12)

Symbols

  • Washing of feet — The task of a servant, taken by the Master; love that stoops
  • Laying aside and taking up garments — Many see an echo of laying down and taking up his life (John 10:17–18)
  • It was night — Judas walks away from the light of the world

Words to understand

His hour
In John's Gospel, the hour of Jesus' Passion, death and glorification.
Unto the end
Both to the end of his life and to the utmost degree.
Girded
Tied a towel around his waist — the dress of a servant.
Glorified
In John, God's glory is revealed above all in the Cross.

Connections to other Scripture

One question to think about

Is it harder for you to serve others, or — like Peter — to let Jesus serve you?

Awaiting theological review

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