John 13:1-35

John 13:1-35 John 13:1-17 John 13:31-35

John 13:1-35

Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary exposition & sermons.
Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
- The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
- Primary texts (Pseudepigrapha, Targum, Midrash, Targum) about Messainic Expectation from (Rutgers University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of Christian texts.
- "Receiving the Sender," "Blessed the Womb," "Leader as Servant," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
- Chapter VI, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110). (Longer version only - 4th cent interpolation.)
- XLIV.11-30, 44, 49; XLV.1-7, 9-11, 19-21; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
- Chapter IX, Chapter XII, Chapter XV, On Baptism, Tertullian (c. 198)
- I.5, II.8, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- Chapter XXII, The Prescription of Heretics, Tertullian (c. 200)
- III.15, VI.12, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- Chapter VI, Considering Repentance, Tertullian (c. 203)
- Chapter XVIII, On Idolatry, Tertullian (c. 211)
- Chapter IX, XII, XV, On Baptism, Tertullian
- Chapter VIII, De Corona, Tertullian (c. 211)
- Chapter XXIII, Against Praxeas, Tertullian (c. 213)
- III.II.1, III.II.4, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
- I.23, I.31, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
- X.30, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
- II.VII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
- XIII.8, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
- Epistle V -- Epistle VI -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
- VI.25, VII.25, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c 320).
- From Augustine's Tractates on John:
  - Tractate 55 (13:1-5)
    - "For inasmuch as the Greek word paschein means to stiffer, therefore pascha has been supposed to mean suffering, as if the noun derived its name from His passion: but in its own language, that is, in Hebrew, pascha means passover..."
  - Tractate 56 (13:6-10)
    - "Deny me not having a part with Thee, and I deny Thee not any part of my body to be washed."
  - Tractate 57 (13:6-10//Song of Solomon 5:2,3)
    - "Wash our feet, that were formerly cleansed, but have again been defiled in our walking through the earth to open unto Thee."
  - Tractate 58 (13:10-15)
    - "...in washing the feet of disciples who were already washed and clean, the Lord instituted a sign, to the end that, on account of the human feelings that occupy us on earth, however far we may have advanced in our apprehension of righteousness, we might know that we are not exempt from sin..."
  - Tractate 59 (13:16-20)
    - "Let every one, therefore, so receive Him that is sent, that in His person lie may give heed to Him who sent Him."
  - Tractate 63 (13:31, 32)
    - "...in the completed separation of that arch sinner from their company, and in the remaining around Him of His saints, we have the foreshadowing of His glorification, when the wicked shall be finally separated, and He shall dwell with His saints through eternity."
  - Tractate 64 (13:33)
    - "...after He rose again He was with them, as has been said, for forty days in the full manifestation of His bodily presence; but He was no longer with them in the fellowship of human infirmity."
  - Tractate 65 (13:34, 35)
    - "How wonderful is the character of that death, which was all but swallowed up in penal sufferings, had it not been over and above absorbed in delights!"
- From the Geneva Notes.
  - "The betraying of Christ was not accidental, or a thing that happened by chance, but it was the Father who ordained the cause of our salvation, to reconcile us unto himself in his Son, and the Son willingly and voluntarily obeyed the Father."
- From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
  - "Our Lord Jesus does many things of which even his own disciples do not for the present know the meaning, but they shall know afterward."
- From Wesley's Notes.
  - "In a more general sense it may mean, If I do not wash thee in my blood, and purify thee by my Spirit, thou canst have no communion with me, nor any share in the blessings of my kingdom."
- From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  - "Peter saith . . . Lord, dost thou wash my feet?--Our language cannot bring out the intensely vivid contrast between the "Thou" and the "my," which, by bringing them together, the original expresses, for it is not good English to say, "Lord, Thou my feet dost wash?" But every word of this question is emphatic."
- From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
  - "A rebuke to their ambitious strife, far more powerful than words could have spoken: such a rebuke that never again do we see a hint of the old question, "Who should be greatest?" It was Christ's answer to their unseemly conduct, and a lesson to those Christians "who love the pre-eminence" for all time. It said, "Let him that would be greatest become the servant of all.""
Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
- Commentary, John 31:31-35, Frank L. Crouch, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
  - "When we live in his love, we can, if called upon, fulfill the highest form of love."
- John 13:31-35, Easter 5C, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
- Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, John 13:31-35, David Ewart, 2011.
  - "Fortunately, this passage actually has TWO new commandments: 1) Love one another as I have loved you. And, 2) Forgive one another as I have forgiven you. Christ-like-love is the goal. Forgiveness is the salve that heals brokenness and makes love possible once again."
- "Clean Feet: A Maundy Thursday Meditation," Alyce M. McKenzie, Patheos, 2011.
- Exegetical Notesby Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
  - "When someone joins our congregations, what does that mean? It should mean, in part, that they become objects of this special "familial" love we have toward our own; and they become givers of this special love towards other members."
  "First Thoughts on Year C Gospel Passages in the Lectionary: Easter 5," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
  - "Oneness in love is the language of intimacy. It applies to our relation with God and Christ (and to their relationship). It is to apply also to our relationships with each other in community."

Articles & Background:

"The Footwashing in John 13:6-11: Transformation Ritual or Ceremony?" Jerome H. Neyrey, in The Social World of the First Christians: Essays in Honor of Wayne A. Meeks, 198-213. L. M. White and O. L. Yarbrough. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.
- "Peter's footwashing ritual has to do with his transformation into the role of an elite, public witness to Jesus with accompanying risk of death - a one-time event. Conversely, the ceremony which the disciples will perform to members of their circle confirms their role and status as leaders of the group - an action to be repeated regularly. Two different rites are described in 13:6-11 and 12-20, and the use of materials from anthropology offers a fruitful way of clarifying the social dynamics of the narrative."
"Friendship in the Bible," Benedict Janecko, Spiritual Life, 2002.
- "In our culture today, there is much talk about 'love' but relatively little about friendship."
"Untamed Hospitality," Elizabeth Newman, (other resources at) "Hospitality," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2007.
- "While our culture reduces 'hospitality' to friendliness and private entertaining, Christian hospitality remains a public and economic reality by which God re-creates us through the places and people we are given."
"Joan Chittister: The Friendship of Women: The Hidden Tradition of the Bible," Donna Freitas, Publishers Weekly, 2006.
"The Sociology of Secrecy and the Fourth Gospel." Jerome H. Neyrey, in What Is John? Vol. II: Literary and Social Readings of the Fourth Gospel, 79-109. F. Segovia, ed. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1998.
- "Once we start to pull back the veil, we notice numerous instances of hiding-revealing, secrecy, ambiguity and even lying. The following is an attempt to catalogue the primary and related instances of secrecy and "information control" in the document."
"A Service of Sacrificial Love: Footwashing," Hugo Zorrilla, Direction, 1995.
- "Getting Our Feet Wet," response by Laura J. Schmidt, Direction, 1995.
"Friendship," issue theme of Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2008. Articles, study guide, inspirational pieces, worship ideas, and more.
"La lavanda dei piedi di Gv 13, 1-20, il Romanzo di Esopo e i Saturnalia di Macrobio," M. Pesce & A. Destro, Biblica 80 (1999). Abstract (in English).
- "Aesop’s Novel confirms that John 1,1-20 has to be set against the background of Graeco-Roman banqueting customs, especially as regards the slaves’ function and the use of the linen cloth (le/ntion) for washing feet. A parallel to the ritual of inversion in John 13 may be found in the feast of Saturnalia during which masters served their own slaves at table."
"Judas' Red Hair and the Jews," by Ruth Mellinkoff, at Jewish Heritage Online Magazine's Topic of the Month: Colors. Mellinkoff explores artistic representations of Judas and antipathy toward red hair.
- "...notably in the art of northern Europe in the later Middle Ages and Renaissance, artists frequently used hideous, deformed features to render Judas as hateful as possible, sometimes transforming those features into Jewish caricatures."

Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.

Berge, Paul S., "Easter to Trinity with the Gospel of John: Bearing Witness to Father, Son and Holy Spirit," Word & World, 1998.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Brown, Rebecca Pugh, "Preaching Justice and Mercy: Reflections on the Lectionary Readings for April," The Living Pulpit, 2007. (See also "Atonement," issue focus of The Living Pulpit, 16.2, 2007.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Coloe, Mary L., "Welcome into the Household of God: The Foot Washing in John 13," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Cowan, Christopher, "The Father and Son in the Fourth Gospel: Johannine Subordination Revisited," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Culpepper, R. Alan, "The Johannine Hypodeigma: A Reading of John 13," Semeia, 1991.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Duke, Paul D., "John 13:1-17, 31b-35, Between Text and Sermon," Interpretation, 1995.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Guenther, Margaret, "No Exceptions Permitted," The Christian Century, 1995.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Friedell, Val, "A Community of Friends, John 13:1-17," Brethren Life and Thought, 2008.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Hays, Richard B., "An Emergency Directive," The Christian Century, 1992.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Herhold, Robert M., "Foot Washing and Last Things," The Christian Century, 1983.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Moloney, Francis J., S.D.B., "A Sacramental Reading of John 13:1-38," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1991.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Neyrey, Jerome H., "Despising the Shame of the Cross: Honor and Shame in the Johannine Passion Narrative," Semeia, 1994.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Olson, Duane A., "The Church in Mission: Gospel Texts for the Sundays after Easter (Series C)," Word & World, 1995.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Pidgeon, George Campbell, "Root and Fruit of Christian Love: Reflections on John 13:34-35; 15:1-14," Theology Today, 1952.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Reid, Barbara E., "The Cross and Cycles of Violence," Interpretation, 2004. (See section beginning on p. 383) (See also entire issue: Violence in the Bible, Interpretation, 2004.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Segovia, Fernando F., "The Structure, Tendenz, and Sitz im Leben of John 13:31-14:31," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1985.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Somerville, James G., "By Our Love," The Christian Century, 1998.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Thomas, Harvey, "Forgiveness and Reconciliation: John 13:31-35," Review & Expositor, 2007. (Issue focus on "reconciliation.")
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Zorrilla, Hugo, "A Service of Sacrificial Love: Footwashing (John 13:1-11)," Direction, 1995.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials

Reviews:

Reviews: Jane S. Webster, Ingesting Jesus: Eating and Drinking in the Gospel of John. Society of Biblical Literature, 2003. Reviews by Francis J. Moloney, Peter-Ben Smit and Robert Baker in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004.

Sermons:

"Redeeming Our Religion," Dr. R. Kirby Dogsey, Day 1, 2012.
"The Stand-In Church," John 13:1-17, The Rev. Lillian Daniel, Day 1, 2011.
Go Love! -- Sermon for Maundy Thursday based on John 13:1-17, 31b-35 by Richard L. Sheffield from SermonStudio.
"Personal Touches that Matter," 05.04.2007, David Zersen, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
"An Encounter that Never Happened," Philip McAlister, Preacher's Magazine, 2006.
"An Incomplete Picture," 13 April 2006, Luke Bouman, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
"Loving as Jesus Loved," the Rev. Dr. John Claypool, Day 1, 2004.
"It's Hard to Say Goodbye," "Love Can Be So Simple," "I Love You Charlie Brown," "A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
"That You Should Do As I Have," - Maundy Thursday - 24 March 2005, Samuel Zumwalt, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
"For America: A Changeless Grace for a Changing Face," The Very Reverend Nathan D. Baxter, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, 1998. 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club.
"Can Love Ever Really Last?" John Jewell, 1998.
"First Class Jesus Style," Fr. John Claypool, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1996.
"Sermon for the 5th Sunday in Easter," the Rev. David Miller, Day 1, 2001.
"What a Christian Community Can Offer a Polarized Society," the Very Rev. Nathan Baxter, Day 1, 1996.
"Beyond Introspection," the Rev. Dr. Hugh L. Eichelberger, Day 1, 1996.
"In the Heat of the Night," "Betrayal," "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," "An Education In Love," L. Gregory Bloomquist, Saint Paul University, Ottawa.
Father Andrew M. Greeley, "author, priest, sociologist", commentary and homily:

With Children:

"The Greatest Commandment - Love," "The Last Supper," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
"Building a Model Life," and "He Loves Us All," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
"The Master Becomes a Servant," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
Crossword on John 13 & 14, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
John 13:15, memory verse activity, MSSS Crafts and Resources for Bible Stories.

Drama:

"Declaration of Dependence," Glenn A. Hascall, dramatix.

Liturgy:

Graphics & Bulletin Materials:

Clip Art, John 13:35, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
Holy Thursday, Lectionary Clipart, Hermanoleon Clipart.
Clip Art Images: John 13:31-35, John 13:31-35 #2, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
John 13:1-15, John 13:31-35 at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
Holy Week Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
Clip Art, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Washing Feet, Henry Martin, sermons4kids.com.

Hymns and Music:

Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
Hymns with Scripture Allusions: John 13:5, 7, 13, 34. The Cyber Hymnal.
Hymn selections, John 13:21-32, (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
Hymn selections, John 13:1-17, 31b-35, (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
- God Will Take Care of You
- In Imitation, Lord of Thee
- Tell Me the Old, Old Story

Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:

Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:

Study Links and Resources for the Book of John

Subscribe to Newsletter