☩The Four Gospelsa Digest & Chapter Register
Under the patronage of St Thomas More — The King's good servant, but God's first.
Table of Titles›Saint John›Chapter 13
JohnXIIIChapter 13 of 21
Washing of feet; new commandment
Jesus washes the disciples' feet; Judas goes out into the night; 'a new commandment: love one another'.
ArgumentChrist washes his disciples' feet. The treason of Judas. The new commandment of love.
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Passages cited from this chapter

John 13:14–15

'You also ought to wash one another's feet'

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.

Discipleship
✠John 13:34–35

'A new commandment I give unto you'

34A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.

Sayings of Our Lord
The chapter entire — John 13, 38 verses
1Before 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.
Before the festival day of the pasch... This was the fourth and last pasch of the ministry of Christ, and according to the common computation, was in the thirty-third year of our Lord: and in the year of the world 4036. Some chronologers are of opinion that our Saviour suffered in the thirty-seventh year of his age: but these different opinions on this subject are of no consequence.
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.
12Then 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.
16Amen, amen, I say to you: The servant is not greater than his lord: neither is the apostle greater than he that sent him.
17If you know these things, you shall be blessed if you do them.
18I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen. But that the scripture may be fulfilled: He that eateth bread with me shall lift up his heel against me,
19At present I tell you, before it come to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe that I am he.
20Amen, amen, I say to you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me: and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
21When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit; and he testified, and said: Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you shall betray me.
22The disciples therefore looked one upon another, doubting of whom he spoke.
23Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him and said to him: Who is it of whom he speaketh?
25He therefore, leaning on the breast of Jesus, saith to him: Lord, who is it?
26Jesus answered: He it is to whom I shall reach bread dipped. And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27And after the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him: That which thou dost, do quickly.
That which thou dost, do quickly... It is not a license, much less a command, to go about his treason: but a signification to him that Christ would not hinder or resist what he was about, do it as soon as he pleased: but was both ready and desirous to suffer for our redemption.
28Now no man at the table knew to what purpose he said this unto him.
29For some thought, because Judas had the purse, that Jesus had said to him: Buy those things which we have need of for the festival day: or that he should give something to the poor.
30He therefore, having received the morsel, went out immediately. And it was night.
31When he therefore was gone out, Jesus said: Now is the Son of man glorified; and God is glorified in him.
32If God be glorified in him, God also will glorify him in himself: and immediately will he glorify him.
33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me. And as I said to the Jews: Whither I go you cannot come; so I say to you now.
34A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.
36Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered: Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now: but thou shalt follow hereafter.
37Peter saith to him: Why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee.
38Jesus answered him: Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Amen, amen, I say to thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou deny me thrice.
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