John 13:1-20 - Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

¹ Before the Passover Festival began, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave the world and go to the Father. He had loved those who were his own in the world, and he loved them to the last.

² The Devil had already put the thought of betraying Jesus into the mind of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon; ³ And at supper, Jesus--although knowing that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was to return to God-- ⁴ Rose from his place, and, taking off his upper garments, tied a towel round his waist. ⁵ He then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel which was tied round him.

⁶ When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said: "You, Master! Are you going to wash my feet?"

⁷ "You do not understand now what I am doing," replied Jesus, "but you will learn by and by."

⁸ "You shall never wash my feet!" exclaimed Peter. "Unless I wash you," answered Jesus, "you have nothing in common with me."

⁹ "Then, Master, not my feet only," exclaimed Simon Peter, "but also my hands and my head."

¹⁰ "He who has bathed," replied Jesus, "has no need to wash, unless it be his feet, but is altogether clean; and you," he said to the disciples, "are clean, yet not all of you." ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said 'You are not all clean.'

¹² When he had washed their feet, and had put on his upper garments and taken his place, he spoke to them again. "Do you understand what I have been doing to you?" he asked. ¹³ "You yourselves call me 'the Teacher' and 'the Master', and you are right, for I am both. ¹⁴ If I, then--'the Master' and 'the Teacher'--have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet; ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, so that you may do just as I have done to you.

¹⁶ In truth I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor yet a messenger than the man who sends him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, happy are you if you do them. ¹⁸ I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but this is in fulfillment of the words of Scripture--'He that is eating my bread has lifted his heel against me.'

¹⁹ For the future I shall tell you of things before they take place, so that, when they take place, you may believe that I am what I am. ²⁰ In truth I tell you, he who receives any one that I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me."