CHAPTER 13
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1
When we come to the preparation for the Passover, we come into an area where there has been a great number of conflicting opinions. In fact, the whole timing of Passover and Jesus’ death has been hotly debated through the centuries. Because of the many scholarly opinions and seeming conflicts, we will probably not be able to speak with absolute certainty on this whole subject. Even the gospels themselves seem to present a conflicting scenario. Since we are now two thousand years distant from these events, it makes it all the more difficult. Nevertheless, we will try our best to sort out a reasonable approach.
By way of background, quite a number of Bible scholars feel that Jesus was crucified in the year AD 30. Some scholars have gone to great lengths to determine this date. They have checked the phases of the moon in the early centuries (Israel operates on a lunar calendar). In the year AD 30, the fourteenth of the Hebrew month of Nisan, or Passover, fell on Thursday. Thus the day of Jesus’ crucifixion would have been on Thursday in the late afternoon and not on Friday according to this scientific evidence.1 The Day of Preparation mentioned would then have been for the Passover Sabbath and not for the normal Sabbath (Passover can fall on any day of the week and it always begins with a Sabbath). In effect, there would have been two Sabbaths in close proximity to each other. The interesting use of “Sabbaths” (Gk. sabbaton) in the plural in Matthew 28:1, seems to corroborate the passing of two Sabbaths while Jesus was in the tomb.2
Alfred Edersheim (1825-89) was a biblical scholar and Jewish convert to Christianity. He had deeply studied the Talmud and Torah and was very familiar with Jewish practices. Edersheim in his book The Temple carefully explains the Passover chronology for us. He tells us how the festival of Passover included Unleavened Bread, and lasted from the fourteenth to the twenty-first days of Nisan (a total festival time of eight days).3 Edersheim states that the Passover lambs in Jesus’ time were slaughtered on the afternoon of the fourteenth. Because of the multitudes of Passover lambs to be slaughtered, the daily evening sacrifice on the fourteenth, which normally would have been slain at 2:30 PM and offered at about 3:30, was moved up an hour.4
At the beginning of the fourteenth day, the leaven was removed from homes. If all the leaven had not been removed the previous evening it could be removed in the forenoon of the fourteenth.5
The leaven was then taken out and burned by the head of the family. In Judea some work could continue until mid-day. However, new work could not be started on the fourteenth day. As we have mentioned, the Passover lambs were sacrificed in the afternoon of the fourteenth day. As Edersheim, and others mention, the Paschal Supper for Israel would have necessarily happened at the beginning of the fifteenth day, which would have started after sundown of course.6 Because of the Jewish calendar and the fact that festivals began in the evening, the chronology of Passover can be quite complicated. All our gospel writers even seem to record the events somewhat differently. Of course, there is a great deal of confusion and varying opinions among Gentile commentators today.
John seems to make clear that Jesus was crucified in the afternoon of Nisan 14, as the other Passover lambs were being slain. This would mean that the Passover meal of Jesus would have happened on the previous evening. This being the case, we can suspect that the meal was more of a commemoration and teaching session rather than an actual Passover where the lamb was slain and eaten. We actually have no mention of the lamb,7 and judging from the tensions between Jesus, his disciples and the temple leadership, it may have been difficult if not impossible for a lamb to have been slain by Jesus and his followers. We note from history that the Essenes celebrated Passover a day early because they had similar tensions with the temple establishment. Thus, some of the difficulty in dating may be the result of two different calendars for Passover.8
At the heart of the problem in dating is the fact that the three synoptic gospels seem to declare that the feast of Jesus and his disciples happened as Passover began (Mt. 26:17, 19; Mk. 14:12, 14, 16; Lk. 22:7-8, 15). This might be cleared up when we remember that the Passover began at sundown of Nisan 13 (Wednesday evening).9 This was the actual start of the holiday and its preparation. It was a possible time for Jesus and his disciples to have had their meal. This would have allowed for Jesus to be crucified the next day with the Passover lambs. It would also have allowed for Jesus to be in the tomb three days and three nights as the prophecy of Matthew 12:40 requires.
As we can see, the whole subject of dating for the Passover and crucifixion is an extremely complex mind-bender. The subject has been muddled considerably by the subsequent practices of the church and of Judaism. There are many factors that enter in and we will probably have to wait until the second coming of Jesus to get it completely solved.
We note that the crowds are no longer present. It has been narrowed down to just Jesus and his twelve disciples.10 The emphasis is now on his great love for them. He would love them to the end. The next few hours would be a time of his intense teaching.
In our years of Israel work my wife and I have done many Passovers in order to help Gentiles understand their significance. We have never used lamb or even the shank bone of a lamb. Instead, we have always emphasized that our Lamb is living and present with us in the celebration. It may be this kind of Seder that Jesus had with his disciples.
WASHING THE DISCIPLES FEET
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. John 13:2
Wiersbe notes that Judas is mentioned more in John than any of the other gospels.11 We see that it was in this supper that the devil took over the heart of Judas. It is important that we understand something of the devil’s working in human lives. So far as we can see from the Bible, Satan is not omniscient or all-knowing. Neither is he omnipresent, for he has to work through his agents.12 The Jewish people feel that although Satan cannot know what is going on in our minds he can nevertheless give us an evil impulse (Heb. yatzer ha-ra). It seems that he did this very thing to Judas. Now obviously, in Jesus we have the power by our faith to resist such impulses. Unfortunately, Judas was not a truly converted person and was apparently missing this shield of faith.
“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist” (13:3-4). Can we even imagine this scene? Jesus was the most powerful figure on earth as Son of the Most High God. Yet, he immediately assumed the position of the lowest servant. We know from other references that at this time the disciples were in the midst of a hot argument about which one of them would be the greatest (Lk. 22:24). It was customary that when guests came into a house the lowest servant would wash their feet. The disciples in their pride would certainly not submit themselves to doing such a job for each other. It was at this point that Jesus prepared himself to do the necessary washing.
In those days there were some major Roman roads to the main cities but many roads were nothing more than dirt trails. Since most people wore sandals in the warmer months (most of the year) their feet became very dirty. It was therefore customary for the lowest slave of a household to wash the feet of the guests. It was considered an insult when feet were not washed (cf. Lk. 7:36-50). Foot-washing therefore became a metaphor for humble service.13 What a symbol this was of Jesus great love for his disciples! He laid down his life for his friends (Jn. 15:13). Although he was rich, for their sakes he became poor (2 Cor. 8:9). Barclay says, “Few incidents in the gospel story so reveal the character of Jesus and so perfectly show his love…” 14
“After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (13:5). What a picture! Paul will later speak of it in Philippians 2:6-7. He will say of Jesus: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” It was the thing about Jesus being a servant that the Jews could not comprehend. He would continue in his servanthood to become obedient to death upon a cross.
PETER’S UNWILLINGNESS TO BE WASHED
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13:6-7
Wiersbe comments, “It takes humility and grace to serve others, but it also takes humility and grace to allow others to serve us.” 15 Peter was not noted for that kind of humility. He was noted for occasionally telling Jesus what to do or what not to do.16 Jesus knew that the foot-washing would be better understood on the other side of Calvary. Of course, a lot of other things about Jesus would be better understood then.
“‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me’” (13:8). Utley says that this expression is a strong double negative in the Greek. Peter is saying, “never no never under any circumstances.” 17 Utley also feels that this idiom has to do with inheritance (cf. Deut. 12:12; 2 Sam. 20:1; 1 Kgs. 12:16).18
This verse has deep spiritual implications for believers today. Our lives have been cleansed and purged by the atonement of the Lord. Still, we spend our days walking in this filthy and polluted world system. Our feet are the part of us that touch the ground. Quite simply, although we are clean in Christ, our feet still get dirtied in the world. It is absolutely necessary that we allow the Lord to wash our feet with his presence, with his word and with his Holy Spirit. There is a serious warning here. If we do not allow this daily washing of our feet it may prove that we have no part with the Lord and his kingdom. Someday we will walk on a street of gold (Rev. 21:21) and we will never have to worry about dirty feet again for all eternity.
Walking with Christ means keeping ourselves unspotted from the world (Jam. 1:27). It is interesting that in the Old Testament priests bathed completely when they came into the priesthood (Exo. 29:4). This experience was never repeated, but they did wash their hands and feet in the laver before ministering in the tabernacle each day (Exo. 30:18-21).19
“‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’” (13:9). We have to appreciate impetuous Peter. His mouth was usually in gear before his brain was. But in spite of that, we always sense a true heart that really wanted to wholly serve the Lord. Peter’s reply reminds us of Paul’s words regarding sanctification in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean” (13:10-11). Jesus speaks here of the two cleansings. The first is the cleansing of the whole person with the blood of the Lamb. This whole cleansing is never repeated. The second is the daily cleansing brought about by the washing of the word and the Holy Spirit. The Greek words used here point out the difference. The Greek word for bath is louō, and means washing the whole body while the washing of a part of the body is niptō.20 When we are saved, our whole body is washed by the blood of the Lamb, but this is not repeated. Our sins are thus washed away and forgiven (see 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Tit. 3:3-7; and Rev. 1:5). The other washing is daily. Once again, it is made clear that the daily washing of our feet in a spiritual sense is indispensable for fellowship with the Lord.21 The theologians would call this progressive sanctification.
Jesus knew that all the disciples were not clean. Judas was never truly saved and Jesus always knew it. No doubt, the Lord had tried to reach him on many occasions but to no avail. There is clear evidence that on this night of the supper the Lord was still trying to reach the heart of Judas. Judas refused, just “as the rock in a flower garden refuses to respond to the genial influences of spring!” 22
GAINING UNDERSTANDING
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. John 13:12
“The discernment of the disciples developed slowly. It took them a long time to begin to comprehend the intensity of Jesus’ love for them and the nature of his humility in dealing with them.” 23 It appears from scripture that the disciples were slow learners, but we today may be even slower learners. It has taken us two thousand years and we still do not understand many of the Lord’s simplest teachings.
Jesus’ action would surely put an end to the argument about who was the greatest. Jesus said to them in Luke’s Passover account: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves” (Lk. 22:25-26).
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (13:13-14). The word for teacher here is the Greek didaskalos and it is quite equivalent to the Jewish word “Rabbi.” 24 Although Jesus has given a teaching to the church we can be quite sure that he was not establishing another sacrament like Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Some groups have done foot-washing over the years. In my ministry experience I have run into this practice a time or two. Our roads today are no longer filled with dust. Most of us wear shoes and not sandals, and thus there is really no practical reason to wash each-other’s feet. In those services where I have attended, it seemed to be more of an embarrassing thing than a blessed sacrament. I have to admit that I came away from these experiences mostly perplexed rather than edified. The New Testament does not make a continual requirement for such a thing. In fact we never see it again in the New Testament by way of teaching or practice.25
What is taught by this instance is that Christians should be ready to do the lowest service for each other.26 Just as the Lord did not come to be served but to serve (Matt. 20:28), we likewise should not seek to be served but to serve. Today such a “foot-washing” in the church could be any needy service to members of the body. It could amount to a hospital visit for the sick, or prayer for one in need, or even a mutual confession of sin (Jam. 5:16). There are many ways we can wash the feet of the saints today (cf. 1 Tim. 5:10).
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (13:15-16). The example of Jesus is very clear and we should follow it. We are not greater than our Master. Whatever he did we should try to imitate. Regarding what he had to endure and suffer, there is an excellent chance that we will have to endure and suffer the same things. There is even a cross for us as Jesus makes very clear (Matt. 10:38; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23).
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (13:17). The New Testament has no patience with those who only hear and never do what is commanded of them. Coffman says, “…It is not in the mere knowledge of sacred truth, but in the faithful obedience of it, that men are blessed.” 27 We will soon notice in John’s Gospel that there begins to be a very strong emphasis upon obedience.
THE COMING BETRAYAL IS PREDICTED
“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.” John 13:18-19
Here we remember the Lord’s stern words, “For many are invited, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14). It is probable that Judas was called but never chosen. Jesus uses Psalm 41:9 and deals with it as a sort of prewritten treachery of Judas.28 Where the NIV here has “turned against me,” many other translations have the words “lifted his heel against me” (NAS, ASV, ESV, NKJ, NRS, RSV). This could be a picture of a horse lifting up his heel as it prepared to kick.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me” (13:20). It seems here that the matter of agency is reflected. When a person is sent, that person goes with all the authority of the sender. Jesus came in the authority of the Father. The ones he sends out go with the authority of Jesus. This statement has powerful implications for present-day disciples. These can go out with full authority from the Lord to do mighty works and to proclaim the gospel with power.
“After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me’” (13:21). Suddenly, with Jesus’ words a very dark shadow was cast over the supper. No doubt, all the disciples wondered if the words could possibly apply to them (v. 22). Jesus had spoken of this problem before (6:70) but somehow the information did not soak into to their minds. Barclay comments concerning Judas: “He must have been the perfect actor and the perfect hypocrite. One thing is clear—if the other disciples had known what Judas was about, he would never have left that room alive…” 29 Undoubtedly, Peter himself would have torn him limb from limb.
“His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant” (13:22). I do not believe that there is a disciple alive today who has not at some point wondered if he or she could betray the Lord. Such a thought is usually overcome immediately by our God-given faith in Jesus. Judas did not have such an advantage and the thought of betrayal took root in his heart. Finally he sold himself to the power of evil and to treachery.30
WHO IS THE TRAITOR?
One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. John 13:23
To appreciate this section of scripture we need to get some understanding of table arrangement in the first century. For regular meals the people sat in chairs but for banquets they lounged around low-lying, “squared U shaped” tables. These were a few inches off the floor and the diners propped up on their left arms and fed themselves with their right hands. They usually had pillows and cushions to recline upon. With such an arrangement, the head was near the table and the feet were stretched out as in a prone position. Those who served did so from inside the “U” shaped table.
Around such Roman or triclinium-style table the position of the host was at the top or center of the “U” with the position of honor at his left.31 From the story we note that the Beloved Disciple, or John, was at the right of the host and thus leaning on Jesus’ breast. We do not know who was at Jesus’ left in the position of honor. However, since Jesus was able to later pass a morsel to him, this person almost certainly had to be Judas. Thus, Jesus was still trying to reach out to him, putting him in a place of honor.
“Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, ‘Ask him which one he means.’ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’” (13:24-25). It is clear that Peter was not in the place of honor at this banquet. He may have been at one of the far ends of the table. We note that John’s name is never mentioned in his gospel and that this was the same with the writers of all the other gospels. He was obviously close enough to Jesus to whisper to the Lord without the other disciples hearing.
“Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot” (13:26). Jesus dipped the unleavened bread into one of the dishes near him and passed it to Judas. In the Passover celebration there is a dipping into the haroset, which is made up of a mixture of fruit and wine. It is a very pleasant and tasty dish. If Jesus had dipped into this and passed it to Judas it would have been a sign of special friendship.32 However, if Jesus sensed that the lot was cast and that Judas could not be redeemed, he could have dipped the bread into the bitter herbs. In the Passover meal this is often made up of extremely hot and bitter horseradish. The fact that Judas immediately got up and left makes us wonder if it was not the bitter herbs that Jesus gave him. Often in Passover celebrations the guests spew, grimace and complain when this dish is served. For certain, the next few hours would be the most bitter hours of Judas’ life.
“As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, ‘What you are about to do, do quickly.’ But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him” (13:27-28). Satan, who is mentioned only here in John’s gospel, then took full control of Judas as the latter made a quick exit.33 Judas left before the Lord instituted his special supper, as recorded in the other gospels.
“Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor” (13:29). Barker and Kohlenberger say, “The reference to making a purchase for the Passover may corroborate the view that this Last Supper was held on the night preceding the Passover…” 34 Judas walked away from the Light that night. When we walk away from the light the shadows are always in front of us, but when we walk to the light the shadows are behind us. Judas faced a dark and dismal future.
His quick departure was no concern to the other disciples. They thought he was going out to buy for the coming festival or else give alms to the poor. Burge mentions that almsgiving was a Passover tradition and that even the gates of the temple were left open so the beggars could assemble and receive gifts that night.3 5 It is amazing that Jesus and his disciples lived on charity but they still were in the habit of giving gifts to others.36
“As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night” (13:30). Judas left the light and plunged off into the darkness. It was his hour, a time when darkness reigned (Lk. 22:53). He loved darkness better than light because his deeds were evil (3:19).
JESUS SPEAKS OF HIS DEPARTURE
When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. John 13:31-32
It was probably a great relief for Judas to be gone. Now Jesus could begin preparing his disciples for what lay ahead. The Lord immediately launches into a subject that some have called the theme of his gospel, the subject of glory.37 Around this subject Jesus weaves his rather lengthy farewell discourse (13:31 –17:26). In some ways it is similar to the farewell of Moses or that of Jacob (Gen. ch. 49; Deut. chs. 20-34).38 Jesus needed to tell them of his soon departure. He spoke of it in terms of his glorification, since it would be by his death on the cross that he would be glorified. When we think of the cross we think of everything besides glorification. Jesus however knew that the cross was the will of God and that it would bring glory to himself and to his Father. He knew that his disciples could not immediately follow him in this plan, but they surely would follow him later.
The word “glorify” is a key word for Jesus as he mentions it five times in verses 31 and 32.39 Jesus knew that by going to the cross he would bring glory to his Father because he would finish up his great plan of salvation. By going through the awful cross and being buried he would finally be raised from the dead and then later ascend to heaven and the glory of the Father which he had once left in order to redeem humankind.
“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come” (13:33). This information must have been terribly shocking to the disciples. They had left everything in order to follow the Master and now he was leaving them. They no doubt felt like scared little children. Jesus addresses them with the Greek diminutive, teknia, or “little children.” This designation is found only in this verse.40
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (13:34-35). The command to love had been given in the Old Testament (Lev. 19:18) but now it has been given an entirely new meaning based on Jesus and his sacrifice. They were to love as he had loved them. They were even to lay their lives down for the brethren (1 Jn. 3:16). Many in Old Testament times felt they were to love their friends and hate their enemies. The sectarians of the Dead Sea Scrolls had said that they were “to love all the sons of light and hate all the sons of darkness.” 41 However, Jesus taught that love was even to go out to enemies. In the time of Tertullian he remarked that the pagans were saying: “See, said they, how they love one another, and are ready to lay down their lives for each other.” 42 It is nice when the pagans can say such things about the church.
“Simon Peter asked him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus replied, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later’” (13:36). There is an amazing accuracy in this prophecy of Jesus. Peter would follow Jesus and would eventually be crucified on a Roman cross just like his Master.
“Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you” (13:37). Stedman asks us how many times we have heard such things from our children. They demand, “Why can’t I go, Daddy?” 43 Peter had no idea what he was asking. He could not walk into the future and it would soon be obvious that he could not walk very well even in the present.
“Then Jesus answered, ‘Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!’” (13:38). Jesus here gave Peter a very accurate word of prophecy. He would disown the Lord three times before the rooster would crow that very night. “The crowing of the rooster was reckoned as the watch between twelve midnight and three o’clock in the morning.” 44 The first crowing happened about 12:30 AM according to some reports.45 I remember how during our four year stay in the Galilee it seemed the roosters crowed most of the night. One would crow and another would answer and it would go on and on. For Peter, the roosters didn’t have a chance to crow before he denied his Lord. Guzik comments, “Poor Peter! He would have died for Jesus but he could not stand being laughed at for Jesus’ sake. To him, a servant-girl’s tongue was sharper than an executioner’s sword.” 46