John 13:1-17

1Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Having [greatly] loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [and continuously loves them with His perfect love] to the end (eternally).

2It was during supper, when the devil had already put [the thought of] betraying Jesus into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son,

3that Jesus, knowing that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was [now] returning to God,

4got up from supper, took off His [outer] robe, and taking a [servant’s] towel, He tied it around His waist.

5Then He poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which was tied around His waist.

6When He came to Simon Peter, he said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

7Jesus replied to him, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but you will [fully] understand it later.”

8Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me [we can have nothing to do with each other].”

9Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, [in that case, wash] not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!”

10Jesus said to him, “Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, and is completely clean. And you [My disciples] are clean, but not all of you.”

11For He knew who was going to betray Him; for that reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12So when He had washed their feet and put on His [outer] robe and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?

13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is who I am.

14So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet as well.

15For I gave you [this as] an example, so that you should do [in turn] as I did to you.

16I assure you and most solemnly say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.

17If you know these things, you are blessed [happy and favored by God] if you put them into practice [and faithfully do them].