Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 Now before the feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, and[fn] having lovedhis[fn] own in the world, loved them to the end. 2 And as[fn] a dinner was taking place,when[fn] the devil had already put into the heart of Judasson of Simon Iscariot that he should betray him, 3 because he[fn] knew that the Father had given him allthings into his[fn] hands, and that he had come forth from God and was going away to God, 4 he got up from the dinner and took off his[fn] outer clothing, and taking a towel, tiedit[fn] around himself. 5 Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them[fn] dry with the towelwhich he had tied around himself.[fn]

6 Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these things.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet forever!”[fn] Jesus replied to him, “Unless I wash you, you do not have a share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my[fn] hands andmy[fn] head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed only needs[fn] to washhis[fn] feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not allof you.” 11 (For he knew the one who would betray him; because of this he said, “Not all of you are clean.”)

12 So when he had washed their feet and taken his outer clothing and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, for I am. 14 If then I—your[fn] Lord and Teacher—wash your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that just as I have done for you, you also do. 16 Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand these things, you are blessed if you do them.

18 “I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but in order that the scripture would be fulfilled, ‘The one who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’[fn] 19 From now on I am telling you before it happens, in order that when it happens you may believe that I am he.[fn] 20 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.”