1.
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
Verse 1
Now before the feast of the pass over; that is, at the commencement of it.
2.
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3.
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4.
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Verse 4
His garments; his outer garments.--Girded himself; after the manner of a servant.
5.
After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Verse 5
To wash, &c. This was a customary office to be performed for guests, at an entertainment, by servants. The only thing remarkable in the case was, that the service should have been performed, for this company, by one who was their Lord and Master, and possessed, too, of such a consciousness of personal dignity as is expressed in John 13:3.
6.
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7.
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Verse 7
Knowest not now; understandest not.--Hereafter; meaning very soon; for Jesus explained his design and meaning, as soon as he resumed his seat. (John 13:13-15.)
8.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9.
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10.
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Verse 10
Every whit; entirely. The meaning of the remark seems to be, simply, that, for his purpose at that time, the washing of the feet was all that was necessary.
11.
For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12.
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Verse 12
Know ye; understand ye.
13.
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14.
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
Verse 14
Ye also ought to wash one another's feet. He meant, by this symbolical act, to teach them that they ought not to be ambitious and aspiring, each endeavoring to rise above the rest, but humble, lowly-minded, in honor preferring one another. There was a tendency, at this time, to the former spirit, in the minds of the disciples. (Luke 22:24.)
15.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17.
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
18.
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
Verse 18
The passage here referred to is found Psalms 41:9.
19.
Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
21.
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Verse 21
Testified; openly declared what he had only intimated before, in John 13:18,John 13:19.
22.
Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23.
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Verse 23
Leaning, &c.; according to the customary position at table.--One--whom Jesus loved. John often speaks of himself in these terms. It is noticeable that the other evangelists do not allude to his enjoying, in any special manner, the Savior's regard.
24.
Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Verse 24
Beckoned; made a signal.
25.
He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Verse 25
Saith unto him; privately.
26.
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Verse 26
Jesus answered; that is, to John, in such a manner that the others did not hear.
27.
And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Verse 27
That thou doest, do, do quickly. During the John 13:1-20, Judas must have been in a state of great anxiety and fear,--being, however, still uncertain how far his designs were really known. This last remark left him no longer any hope of concealment; but the detection produced irritation and anger, not repentance. Dreading probably an open exposure before all the disciples, he seems to have hastened away, in a fit of desperation, to enter at once upon the execution of his design.
28.
Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29.
For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30.
He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
31.
Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32.
If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33.
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36.
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Verse 36
Whither, &c.; referring to what Jesus had said, (John 13:33.)
37.
Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
38.
Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
Verse 38
The cock shall not crow. Mark 14:30; Luke 22:34 say before the cock crow twice. The meaning of both expressions is simply as if he had said, "Thou shalt deny me thrice before the morning."