1 Now it was before the Passover Festival [was to begin] and Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Those [living] in the world, whom He had loved, and who were His own [disciples], He continued to love [dearly] to the very end [i.e., of His life on earth].
2 The devil had already filled the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, with the desire to turn Jesus over [i.e., to the Jewish authorities]. During the [Passover] meal,
3 Jesus, who knew that the Father had given Him complete authority, [also] knew that He had come from God and was [about] to return to God.
4 So, He got up from the dinner table, laid aside His [outer] clothing and took a towel and wrapped it around Himself.
5 Then He poured water into a basin and began washing His disciples feet and drying them with the towel around His waist.
8 Peter said to Him, "[No], you will never wash my feet." Jesus replied to him, "If I do not wash you, you will not be able to participate with me [i.e., as a disciple]."
9 Simon Peter [then] said to Him, "Lord, do not [just] wash my feet only, but my hands and head, too."
10 Jesus replied to him, "The person who has already had a bath is completely clean and does not need to wash anything but his feet. And you disciples are [already] clean [i.e., spiritually], but not every one of you."
11 For Jesus knew who would betray Him; that is why He said, "Not every one of you is [spiritually] clean."
12 So, after Jesus had washed His disciples' feet and put His [outer] clothing back on, He reclined again [at the dinner table] and said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you?
13 You call me 'Teacher,' and 'Lord,' and you are right in doing so because that is who I am.
14 So if I, then, being your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you should wash one another's feet also.
15 For I have set an example for you, so that you should do as I have done for you.
16 Truly, truly, I tell you, a slave is not greater [in importance] than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the person who sent him.
17 If you know these things, you will be happy if you practice them.
18 "I am not talking about all of you; for I know the ones I have chosen [i.e., which of the twelve apostles would be faithful]. But let the Scripture [Psa. 41:9] be fulfilled [that says], 'The person who eats with me has [viciously] turned against me.'
19 I am telling you this now, [even] before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that I am [the Messiah].
20 Truly, truly, I tell you, the person who welcomes whoever I send welcomes me; and the one who welcomes me, welcomes God, who sent me."
21 After Jesus said this, He felt disturbed in His spirit and declared, "Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will turn me over [to the Jewish authorities]."
22 The disciples looked at one another, puzzled over who He was talking about.
23 One of Jesus' disciples, [the one] He loved [Note: Probably this was the apostle John] was reclining at the dinner table close to Jesus.
24 So, Simon Peter motioned [to John] and said, "Ask Jesus which one [of us] He is talking about."
25 So, John leaned over close to Jesus and asked Him, "Lord, who is it?"
26 Jesus answered, "It is the person to whom I give a piece of bread after dipping it [in the sauce bowl]." So, when He had dipped the piece of bread, He took it [out] and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 Then after [he ate] the piece of bread, Satan entered Judas' heart. So, Jesus said to him, "Do what you are going to do, and do it quickly."
28 Now, no one at the table knew why He had said this to him.
29 For some of them thought, since Judas was in charge of the [money] bag, that Jesus was telling him, "Buy whatever we need for the [Passover] meal," or that he was [being told] to give [money] to poor people [from it].
30 So, after eating the piece of bread, Judas went out immediately. And it was nighttime.
31 Then after Judas left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of man is [being] glorified [Note: Being "glorified" involved Jesus' crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. The first step of this had now begun]. And God is [being] glorified through the Son's life.
32 And if God is [so] glorified through Him [now], God will [also] glorify the Son in Himself very soon. [Note: Possibly this was a reference to Jesus returning to the Father's presence].
33 "I will be with you, [my dear] children, for only a little while [longer]. You people will look for me, but I am now telling you what I told the Jewish authorities, 'You will not be able to go where I will be.'
34 I am giving you a new commandment: love one another. Also you should love one another in the same way that I have loved you.
35 If you love one another, then everyone will know by [observing] this that you are my disciples."
36 Simon Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You cannot follow me where I am going now, but you will [be able to] follow later."
37 Peter [then] said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow you [there] even now? I am willing to die for you."