Bible Commentaries

It was now the day before. McGarvey says this is Thursday, April 6, 30 A.D. [by the corrected calendar]. This was to be the last night of Jesus' life. Jesus knew that his hour had come. This introduces the remaining part of John's Gospel. John emphasizes the LOVE which motivated Christ.

Were at supper. The supper has just been served, and they are ready to begin eating. The Expositor's Greek Testament says: "Feet-washing, pleasant and customary before a meal, would have been disagreeable and out of place in the course of it." Jesus rose from the table, washed the feet, then sat down again to the supper. [Supper = feast, banquet, main meal.] The Devil had already decided. But Judas had volunteered for the job.

Complete power. John mentions this to point out that Jesus fully knew who and what he was, as he washes their feet.

So Jesus rose from the table. No word of explanation! Something is unusual here! This is not some new rite, but a deep spiritual lesson. (1) The disciples expected the immediate creation of the Kingdom, That Luke 22:24-30). (2) They had removed their sandals, and sat at the table with dry and dusty feet. But no one of them would volunteer to wash their feet, because in their self-pride, each thought he was better than the other. (3) While they sit, full of pride and envy, obsessed with their desire to be number one: Jesus, the Son of God, their Lord, gets up and does for them what they will not do for each other. Jesus acted out what he had already told them: "The leader must be like the servant. " [Remember that they are already ritually pure (John 11:55).]

Are you going to wash my feet, Lord? You??? The others sit in amazed silence!

You will never! He cannot allow his Lord to do such a thing! If I do not. This implies a deeper spiritual meaning. Compare Revelation 1:5-6.

Whoever has taken a bath. Compare note on John 11:55. They had all made themselves ritually clean. Except for his feet. Their feet were dusty from walking. [Johnson sees in this: "He who is once cleansed by the blood of Christ only needs, after this, to come to Christ for partial cleansing; for the forgiveness of the special sins that make him unclean." Compare 1 John 1:7-10.]

Do you understand? Jesus had used an ordinary thing, a custom, to teach them. He asks this question to point out the fact that they must look for some unusual meaning in what he has just done.

You call me Teacher and Lord. The disciple should not be ashamed to do what his Lord has done. Should wash each other's feet. "Be eager to show respect for one another" (Romans 12:10).

I have set an example for you. Not a rite, but an example! They are to be eager to show respect to each other, in a humble, loving spirit. To be the greatest, forget yourself and serve others!

If you put it into practice! That John 13:17.

Before it happens. That John 8:58.

He was deeply troubled. Because one of his friends was a traitor. See Psalm 41:9, which is considered a prophecy of this. On this prediction, see notes on Matthew 26:20-25. One of the disciples. This is John himself. Whom Jesus loved. Matthew 26:31-35.