Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world. It was time for him to go to the Father. Jesus loved his disciples who were in the world. So he now showed them how much he really loved them.

2The evening meal was being served. The devil had already tempted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. He had told Judas to hand Jesus over to his enemies. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put everything under his power. He also knew he had come from God and was returning to God.

4So he got up from the meal and took off his outer clothes. He wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a large bowl. Then he began to wash his disciples’ feet. He dried them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter.

“Lord,” Peter said to him, “are you going to wash my feet?”

7Jesus replied, “You don’t realize now what I am doing. But later you will understand.”

8“No,” said Peter. “You will never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you can’t share life with me.”

9“Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet! Wash my hands and my head too!”

10Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs to wash only his feet. The rest of his body is clean. And you are clean. But not all of you are.”

11Jesus knew who was going to hand him over to his enemies. That was why he said not every one was clean.

12When Jesus finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes. Then he returned to his place.

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You are right. That is what I am. 14I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you.

16“What I’m about to tell you is true. A servant is not more important than his master. And a messenger is not more important than the one who sends him.