Whole chapter discussed by Martin Luther —
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
1It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end. 2The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
3Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. 4So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. 5After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him.
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”
10Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
(Psalms 41:1–13)
18I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He. 20Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”
21After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
22The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant. 23One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side. 24So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about. 25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”
26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.
Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him. 29Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as he had received the morsel, Judas went out into the night.
Love One Another
(Romans 12:9–13; 1 John 3:11–24)
31When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify the Son in Himself—and will glorify Him at once.
33Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
34A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Matthew 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–38)
36“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked.
Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”
37“Lord,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”
38“Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.