John 13 - The Passion Translation(TPT)

Jesus Washes Feet

1Jesus knew that the night before Passover would be his last night on earth before leaving this world to return to the Father’s side. All throughout his time with his disciples, Jesus had demonstrated a deep and tender love for them. And now he longed to show them the full measure of his love.

2Before their evening meal had begun, the accuser had already deeply embedded betrayal into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

3Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him.

4So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist.

5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel.

6But when Jesus got to Simon Peter, he objected and said, “I can’t let you wash my dirty feet—you’re my Lord!”

7Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.”

8Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!”

“But Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with me.”

9So Peter said, “Lord, in that case, don’t just wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!”

10Jesus said to him, “You are already clean. You’ve been washed completely and you just need your feet to be cleansed—but that can’t be said of all of you.” For Jesus knew which one was about to betray him,

11and that’s why he told them that not all of them were clean.

12After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I just did?” Jesus said.

13“You’ve called me your teacher and lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am.

14-15So if I’m your teacher and lord and have just washed your dirty feet, then you should follow the example that I’ve set for you and wash one another’s dirty feet. Now do for each other what I have just done for you.

16I speak to you timeless truth: a servant is not superior to his master, and an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him.

17So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!”

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

18“I don’t refer to all of you when I tell you these things, for I know the ones I’ve chosen—to fulfill the Scripture that says, ‘The one who shared supper with me treacherously betrays me.’

19I am telling you this now, before it happens, so that when the prophecy comes to pass you will be convinced that I AM.

20“Listen to this timeless truth: whoever receives the messenger I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the Father who sent me.”

21Then Jesus was moved deeply in his spirit. Looking at his disciples, he announced, “I tell you the truth—one of you is about to betray me.”

22Eyeing each other, his disciples puzzled over which one of them could do such a thing.

23The disciple that Jesus dearly loved was at the right of him at the table and was leaning his head on Jesus.

24Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to.

25Then the dearly loved disciple leaned into Jesus’ chest and whispered, “Master, who is it?”

26“The one I give this piece of bread to after I’ve dipped it in the bowl,” Jesus replied. Then he dipped the piece of bread into the bowl and handed it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

27And when Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus looked at Judas and said, “What you are planning to do, go do it now.”

28None of those around the table realized what was happening.

29Some thought that Judas, their trusted treasurer, was being told to go buy what was needed for the Passover celebration, or perhaps to go give something to the poor.

30So Judas left quickly and went out into the dark night to betray Jesus.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

31After Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the glory of God to surround the Son of Man, and God will be greatly glorified through what happens to me.

32And very soon God will unveil the glory of the Son of Man.

33“My dear friends, I only have a brief time left to be with you. And then you will search and long for me. But I tell you what I told the Jewish leaders: you’ll not be able to come where I am.

34“So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you.

35For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”

36Peter interjected, “But, Master, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going you won’t be able to follow, but one day you will follow me there.”

37Peter said, “What do you mean I’m not able to follow you now? I would sacrifice my life to die for you!”

38Jesus answered, “Would you really lay down your life for me, Peter? Here’s the absolute truth: Before the rooster crows in the morning, you will say three times that you don’t even know me!”