John 13 - And it was night...
- Chad Werkhoven
- Dec 20, 2022
- 2 min read
The simplest statements are often the most profound.
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John 13 (ESV)
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that
his hour had come
to depart
out of this world
to the Father,
having
loved his own who were in the world,
he loved them to the end.
2 During supper,
when the devil had already put
it 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
had come from God
and was going back to God,
4 rose from supper.
He laid aside his outer garments,
and taking a towel,
tied it around his waist.
5 Then he
poured water into a basin
nd began to wash the disciples’ feet
and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
“Lord, do you wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered him,
“What I am doing you do not understand now,
but afterward you will understand.”
8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered him,
“If I do not wash you,
you have no share with me.”
9 Simon Peter said to him,
“Lord, not my feet only
but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him,
“The one who has bathed does not need to wash,
except for his feet,
but is completely clean.
And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
11 For he knew who was to betray him;
that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them,
“Do you understand what I have done to you?
13 You call me Teacher and Lord,
and you are right,
for so I am.
14 If I then,
your Lord and Teacher,
have washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example,
that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you,
a servant is not greater than his master,
nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things,
blessed are you if you do them.
18 I am not speaking of all of you;
I know whom I have chosen.
But the Scripture will be fulfilled,
‘He who
ate my bread
has lifted his heel against me.’
19 I am telling you this now,
before it takes place,
that when it does take place
you may believe
that I am he.
20 Truly, truly, I say to you,
whoever receives
the one I send
receives me,
and whoever
receives me
receives the one who sent me.”
21 After saying these things,
Jesus was troubled in his spirit,
and testified,
“Truly, truly, I say to you,
one of you will betray me.”
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.
23 One of his disciples,
whom Jesus loved,
was reclining at table at Jesus’ side,
24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.
25 So that disciple,
leaning back against Jesus,
said to him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered,
“It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.”
So when he had dipped the morsel,
he gave it to Judas,
the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 Then after he had taken the morsel,
Satan entered into him.
Jesus said to him,
“What you are going to do,
do quickly.”
28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.
29 Some thought that,
because Judas had the moneybag,
Jesus was telling him,
“Buy what we need for the feast,”
or that he should give something to the poor.
30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread,
he immediately went out.
And it was night.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said,
“Now is the Son of Man glorified,
and God is glorified in him.
32 If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself,
and glorify him at once.
33 Little children,
yet a little while I am with you.
You will seek me,
and just as I said to the Jews,
so now I also say to you,
‘Where I am going
you cannot come.’
34 A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another:
just
as I have loved you,
you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him,
“Where I am going
you cannot follow me now,
but you will follow afterward.”
37 Peter said to him,
“Lord, why can I not follow you now?
I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Jesus answered,
“Will you lay down your life for me?
Truly, truly, I say to you,
the rooster will not crow
till you have denied me three times.
Previous DIG DEEPER posts on John
John 13 Summary
If you have a 'red letter' edition of the Bible, you'll notice that the next five chapters are mostly in red ink, illustrating that Jesus is doing lots of talking. Nearly a quarter of John's gospel takes place on the last night before Jesus is arrested, and these chapters give us tremendous insight into Jesus' teaching.
It's good for us to be reading these chapters focused on Jesus' final words during the Christmas season, as they help us put the Christmas story into perspective, just as the Christmas story helps us understand these final teachings.
Jesus tells His disciples that He set an example by washing their feet, and that they (we) should follow that example (v15). While there may be times where a ceremonial foot washing may be appropriate, it's not exactly what Jesus has in mind here.
The washing of feet doesn't have anywhere close to the same meaning in our culture that it did in two millennia ago in Palestine. Rather, Jesus is commanding us to live selflessly by serving others. What's amazing is that as you deny yourself by 'knowing [and doing] these things, you will be blessed (v17).'
Dig Deeper
We've commented several times how John has a very unique writing style. Whereas Paul is very logical and linear, John is often more emotive and will say the same thing over in multiple ways. This is not to be critical of John, just to notice and marvel at how the Spirit spoke through so many different types of personalities.
Yet John has an incredible way of making massively deep and profound statements using really simple words and sentences. John describes the fallen, sinful condition of mankind at its worst moment by simply writing:
and it was night. (v30)
Take a moment and reflect on how much John has used the motif of darkness / light throughout his gospel. What parts of your life are you comfortably walking in the light, and what parts are shrouded in darkness?
AAA Prayer :
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father who is glorified in His Son
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will live selflessly for others as Christ taught (v14-15)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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