John 13:1-17
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
Now before the feast
of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would
depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the
world, he loved them to the end. After supper, the devil having
already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,
Jesus, knowing that the
Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from
God, and was going to God, arose from supper, and laid aside
his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
Then he poured water into
the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with
the towel that was wrapped around him. Then he came to Simon Peter. He
said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?"
Jesus answered him,
"You don't know what I am doing now, but you will
understand later."
Peter said to him,
"You will never wash my feet!"
Jesus answered him, "If I don't wash you, you have
no part with me."
Simon Peter said to
him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"
Jesus said to him,
"Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet
washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of
you." For he
knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, "You are not all clean." So when he had washed their
feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them,
"Do you know what I have done to you? You call me, 'Teacher' and
'Lord.' You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I have given you an
example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Most certainly I tell you, a
servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than
he who sent him. If you
know these things, blessed are you if you do them.