Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
NOW before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
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34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
MAIN THOUGHT: For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (John 13:15, KJV)
Multiple definitions of love leave people confused about how to love. What is the bottom line when it comes to love? Jesus taught that our love for one another should be manifested in our service to others.
INTRODUCTION
It goes without saying, love can sometimes be confusing. Growing up when my mother would physically chastise me, she often would remind me it hurt her more than it did me. As I got older, I understood such is the nature of love. When we let it rule the heart, love sometimes can make those for whom we care the most feel uncomfortable. In addition to the preferred favorable emotions that are usually associated with love, as we mature, love is also about having hard conversations, knowing how to accept criticism, and holding one another accountable. These expressions of love are just as, if not more so, painful to convey as they are to receive. And yet this too is love, though an upside-down version of it.
