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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
A PATTERN OF HUMILITY AND A NEW COMMANDMENT

[“Love One Another”]
Key Word: Love

John 13:1-11 – “All of You Are Clean, Accept One”

JN13:1 Knowing before the Passover festival that his hour had arrived – so that he might transfer from the world of humankind toward the Father 694 – Jesus loved to the end those of his he had loved 695 in the world of humankind.

694	Transfer from the world of humankind toward the Father: Or, depart, remove, leave, pass from, move out. [John 16:28; 17:11]

695

Jesus loved to the end those of his he had loved: Or, to the last, utterly. Compare notes on John 15:9; 17:9; 1 John 3:16. [Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:2] Jesus is the perfect example of real [divine] love. On the subject of love, or AGAPE, see notes on 1 Corinthians chapter 13 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©.

JN13:2 Now while the [Passover] supper was taking place, 696 the Devil had already thrust into the heart of Judas Iscariot, 697 son of Simon, so that he should hand Jesus over. 698

696	Now while the [Passover] supper was taking place: What happens, and the teachings Jesus gives, take place during or after the Passover supper, Nisan 14.

697	Devil had already thrust into the heart of Judas Iscariot: Or, put into, suggested, the idea. Judas becomes demon-possessed, satanic-possessed. [Matthew 26:16, 64; Mark 14:11]

698	Hand Jesus over: Or, betray, deliver him up.

JN13:3 Knowing that the Father had entrusted everything into his hands 699 – and that he had come from God and was departing toward The God 700 –

699	Entrusted everything into his hands: Or, given all things, left everything. Compare notes on Matthew 11:27 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. [Acts 2:26; Hebrews 2:8]

700

He had come from God and was departing toward The God: Or, BEC: going back to God; TCN: return to God. A suggestion of Christ’s pre-existence. [John 6:62; 16:28; 17:5] Here in the Greek only the second occurrence of THEOS has the article. Jesus had come from “God” and was returning to “The God.” Jesus was not God.

JN13:4 Jesus got up from the [Passover] supper and removing his outer garments placed a towel around his waist. JN13:5 Next, he poured water into the washbasin and he began to wash the feet of the disciples. Also, he dried their feet with the towel around his waist. JN13:6 So, now he approached Simon Peter. Peter said to Jesus: “Master, are you washing my feet?” JN13:7 Jesus answered and said to him: “Right now, you have no idea what I am doing, but you will understand later.” JN13:8 Peter said to Jesus: “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him: “If I never wash you, you will never be my partner.” 701

701	Never be my partner: Or, no part in me, no share, no fellowship.

JN13:9 Simon Peter said to him: “Master, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and head!” JN13:10 Jesus said to him: “The person who bathes only needs to wash the feet, and then is completely clean. All of you are clean – accept one.” JN13:11 For Jesus had known who would turn him in. 702 That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

702	Turn him in: Or, hand him over, betray, a traitor, betrayer, false to him.

John 13:12-20 – “I Set the Pattern for You”

JN13:12 Now when Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garments on and reclined at the table again. He said to them: “Do you all realize what I have done to you? JN13:13 You all call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master’, 703 and you speak correctly, for I am such.

703	Master: Or, Lord. See notes on Matthew 23:8. [John 1:38]

JN13:14 So, if I wash all of your feet as Master and Teacher, you also are obligated to wash the feet of one another. JN13:15 For I gave all you [apostles] a pattern 704 so that just as I did to you, you also must do [to one another].

704

I gave all you [apostles] a pattern: Or, example. The lesson is one of humble service to others. In these teachings when the Greek “you” is plural or singular it will be noted by an additional word. It is important to understand that some of the things Jesus said to his apostles were meant for them, and not necessarily for all other Christians. The washing of feet was a regular practice of hospitality in a world wear everyone wore sandals on dusty paths and roads. Compare notes on 1 Timothy 5:10.

JN13:16 I tell you this truth: a slave is not greater than his master, nor an apostle greater than the one who sent him. 705

705	Nor an apostle greater than the one who sent him: Jesus was an “apostle” sent by the One greater than him, God. [See Hebrews 3:1.] Also these apostles were never to be greater than the one who sent them forth – Jesus.

JN13:17 If you know these things, blessed are you when you do them. JN13:18 I am not talking about all of you. I am aware whom I chose. However, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘The person feeding on my bread has raised his heel against me.’ 706 [Psalm 41:9]

706	The person feeding on my bread has raised his heel against me: Jesus quotes Psalm 41:9 which deals with David’s own betrayer. Read Psalm 41:6-9 and consider the thoughts and words of such betrayers.

JN13:19 Beginning right now I am telling all of you before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may continue to believe 707 that I am he. 708

707	When it does occur you may continue to believe: Jesus has in mind first the betrayal of Judas. [John 14:29; 16:4]

708	I am he: That is, “I am the one.” Or, GDS: I am what I say; MOF: who I am; PME: the one I claim to be. See notes on John 9:9 and the blind man’s use of “I am he.”

JN13:20 I tell you this truth: the person that receives anyone I send is receiving me. 709 Also, the person receiving me receives the One who sent me.”

709	Receiving me: Or, accept, welcome.

John 13:21-30 – Satan Enters Judas

JN13:21 After having said these things Jesus became troubled within himself, 710 and he testified and said: “I tell you this truth: one from among you [apostles] will turn me in.”

710	Troubled within himself: Or, disquieted, greatly moved, disturbed, profoundly moved, in anguish. The Greek is literally “troubled to the spirit.”

JN13:22 The disciples began looking at one another and were at a loss about what Jesus had said. JN13:23 Lying back against Jesus’ chest 711 was one from among the disciples that Jesus loved [more]. 712

711	Lying back against Jesus’ chest: Or, leaning on Jesus’ bosom, close beside. This is the favored position at the meal. Compare Luke 16:23; John 1:18.

712	That Jesus loved: Or, specially loved, the favorite, preferred. Most understand this to be the apostle John. [John 19:26; 20:2] John chooses not to use his name.

JN13:24 So, Simon Peter gestured to this [disciple], saying to him: “Tell us about whom he is saying this?” JN13:25 That disciple leaned back against the chest of Jesus and asked him: “Master, who is it?” JN13:26 Therefore, Jesus answered: “It is that person to whom I shall give the piece of bread I shall dip.” 713 Having dipped the piece of bread, Jesus took it and gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.

713	Piece of bread I shall dip: Or, morsel. The custom in many countries is to dip pieces of bread into a sauce or the juice of a plate. This was part of the unleavened bread at the Passover meal.

JN13:27 And after [he took the piece of bread] Satan entered into Judas. 714 So Jesus told him: “Whatever you are going to do, do it quickly.”

714	Satan entered into Judas: Note John 13:2. [Luke 22:3]

JN13:28 However, none of the disciples reclining at the table understood what Jesus said to Judas. JN13:29 Some thought that since Judas had the money-box, Jesus had said to him: “Go buy whatever we need for the festival,” or, “give something to the poor.” JN13:30 After having taken the piece of bread Judas left at once. Now it was [already] night. 715

715

Now it was [already] night: The Passover begins at sunset. The Law specified “between the two evenings” which some Jews understood between sunset and true darkness, about one hour or more depending on the location on earth. Jesus speaks at length and will continue to chat with his eleven apostles into the night.

John 13:31-35 – A New Commandment to Love

JN13:31 After Judas had left, Jesus said: “Now the Son of Humankind may be glorified, 716 [Daniel 7:13] and The God may be glorified in him.

716	Now the Son of Humankind may be glorified: Or, now is, at last. The machinery has started leading to his execution. Note the word “glorified” in John 12:28.

JN13:32 And The God will glorify him in Himself, 717 and He will glorify him right away. 718

717	Glorify him in Himself: Or, GDS: honored through him.

718	Right away: Or, straightway, without delay.

JN13:33 Little children, I am with you for a brief moment. 719 You [disciples] will look for me, and just as I told the Jews – ‘Where I am going you are unable to come’ – I am now saying to you [the same].

719	I am with you for a brief moment: Or, a little while, a little longer.

JN13:34 I am giving to you [disciples] a new commandment, 720 so that you may love one another just as I loved all of you, 721 so you may love one another. 722

720	New commandment: Or, new command. It is new because it goes beyond the Law’s “love your neighbor as yourself.” It is a self-sacrificing love that goes beyond love for self and includes a greater love. [Compare notes on 1 John 2:7,9 and 2 John 5 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©.]

721	So that you may love one another just as I loved all of you: Here is the qualifier: a love like that demonstrated by Jesus – a love willing to sacrifice self for others. [John 15:9; Ephesians 5:2] Compare notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000© on 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

722	Love one another: Compare notes on 1 John 3:14, 23 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. [Leviticus 19:18; John 15:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; James 2:8; 1 Peter 1:22]

JN13:35 By this [love] all will know that you are my disciples, 723 if you continue to have love among one another.”

723

All will know that you are my disciples: Among other things, the key evidence of discipleship is love. [Romans 13:8; 1 Corinthians 13:8; Galatians 6:2; 1 John 4:20] The person who habitually shows a lack of love – as in gossip and slander, or a failure to material help others – cannot be a disciple of Christ.

John 13:36-38 – Peter to Disown Jesus Three Times

JN13:36 Simon Peter asked Jesus: “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered: “Where I am going, Peter, 724 you are unable to follow me now, but you will follow later.” 725

724	Peter: This has been added to make the singular “you” clear.

725	You will follow later: Likely referring to Peter’s own death and later glorification. [John 14:1-3; 21:18, 19]

JN13:37 Peter said to Jesus: “Master, why am I unable to follow you right now? I will surrender my soul for you!” 726

726	I will surrender my soul for you: Or, give my life, lay down my life. A reflection of the love Jesus had just mentioned. Compare notes on John 15:13.

JN13:38 Jesus answered: “Will you surrender your soul for me? I tell you this truth: A cock will never crow before you have disowned me three times!” 727

727	Disowned me three times: When we look at Peter’s facial expression we are as sad and shocked as he! [Matthew 26:34; Mark 14:30; Luke 22:34; John 18:27] In one way or another most of the other disciples, if not all, will temporarily abandon Jesus.

Review Questions on Chapter Thirteen