Publication by the successors of A.P. Lopukhin. Explanatory Bible. Interpretation of the Gospel of John

13:1
Before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father,
Before the Feast of the Passover - i.e. 14 Nisan (the 15th day was called the Passover holiday (see Luke 22:1) Jesus knew about his mission as the Passover lamb for humanity, redeeming it from the slavery of sin and death, even before he came to earth. He also knew about the time of completion of his mission with departure to the Father after that. That is why his entire short period of life, allotted to fulfilling the will of the Father, was lived strictly according to a written plan without distractions from human vanity.

[demonstrated by deeds that], having loved His beings in the world,

The time has come for Christ to move from words about love to action and actually show how he loved HIS. Let us note that Jesus loved all of humanity as a whole and therefore wanted to help everyone living in the world to break out of the captivity of sin through sacrificing himself as a sacrifice of atonement. However, he understood that his death would be noticed and appreciated not by everyone living in the world, only by God’s sheep. And for the sake of at least some who will certainly appreciate it and want to break out of the captivity of sin, Jesus went to sacrificial death. Jesus thought of them as HIS, whom he loved even before he discovered them on earth.

loved them to the end.

That is, he fulfilled his mission to redeem HIS OWN to the end: his death was the logical conclusion of the entire plan to save God’s people and the apogee of his deeds of love towards people.

13:2
And during the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Simon Iscariot to betray Him
, As we see, Judas was present at the Supper with Christ and the apostles and already during the passage of the supper he was waiting for an opportune moment for betrayal.

We have known since the days of Eden how the devil puts all sorts of unrighteous desires into the heart: he encourages secretly or offers to openly act against God’s spirit, skillfully manipulating those who gave him a place in themselves. Judas gave him a place (the opportunity to manipulate himself) through his love of money, and the Supper became the starting point for him in committing a crime against the son of God.

13:3
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came from God and was going to God
, Here John quite clearly stated that Jesus Christ was never Jehovah God, but Jehovah God was his Father and God, who sent him from heaven to earth as their son, entrusting him with the mission of saving people.

13:4,5
He arose from supper, took off [his outer] clothes, and taking a towel, girded himself.
5 Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wipe them with the towel that was around the waist. The moment of washing the disciples’ feet before starting dinner was a custom in Judea: the roads were dusty, they did not sit down at the table until they had washed their feet and hands . Some Bible scholars perceive the washing of Christ's feet as an example of Christ's deep humility before his disciples (although humility, in theory, presupposes complete obedience, and Christ as a teacher could not be obedient to his disciples). And some of them decided that by doing this, Jesus was introducing a new custom for the meeting of the Christian congregation at the Supper - the obligatory washing of each other's feet.

However, if you are careful, you can see something completely different in this ablution. Let's pay attention to several key points of this procedure:

13:6-10
He came to Simon Peter, and he said to Him: Lord!
Should you wash my feet? Apart from Peter, it seems that all the disciples calmly accepted the procedure of washing feet from Christ: if Christ wanted to do this, then why be excessively scrupulous? Peter seemed especially embarrassed that the teacher of heaven would humiliate himself so much before a sinful earthly man. Peter, as one might think, reveres Christ more than the rest and clearly does not understand why the others agreed to this?

Perhaps the others also had questions, but Peter was always distinguished by his directness and asked what he did not understand. Thanks to Peter’s questions, we today have the opportunity to learn the meaning of many of Jesus’ actions, and the apostles were enriched by Christ’s answers from Peter’s questions.

7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not know now, but you will understand later...

Sometimes it makes sense to speak, even if you know for sure that now they won’t believe you and won’t accept it. Perhaps our words can be perceived after some future events. With this in mind, Jesus explains: each of his actions before leaving for heaven is thought out and consistent, these clear examples will be able in due time to guide them on the path of God in his absence. But his students will be able to understand this only with time.

So it turns out that even if in the presence of Christ the disciples did not understand everything from his words or actions, then one should not think that after his departure everything will immediately become clear regarding the path of Christ, one has only to read the Bible.

8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.

Key Point: HAVE NO PART with me. That is, the ablution procedure was not at all reduced to humility and self-abasement. And specifically to the washing of feet - by Christ, without which, it turns out, it is impossible to become his disciple. Let's look further at their conversation and find out what washing feet means and what Christians should have learned from this lesson:

9 Simon Peter said to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and head.

Peter, an emotional nature, in order to become a part of Christ, is ready to allow himself and wash himself entirely to Christ. However, this is unnecessary; the important thing here is not to do more, but not to do less than Christ shows; it is enough to follow his example:

10 Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth only to wash his feet, for he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all.

Key point: THE WASHED ONE only needs to wash his feet.

So, the disciple who follows Christ, as in this case all his disciples, are generally washed by Christ through the acceptance of the word of God (“ by the washing of water through the word

" -Eph. 5:26). However, something still remains unwashed in every imperfect person, therefore, one who follows Christ through the dust of this world cannot do without the effort of washing the “dirty” remnant in oneself (figuratively “feet”). Let us return a little further to the meaning of ablution.

13:11
and you are clean, but not all.
For He knew His betrayer, therefore He said: not all of you are pure . Jesus knows that not all the apostles were washed in the washing of the word of God, meaning Judas Iscariot, who entered into an agreement with the devil.

13:12,13 12
And when he had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he lay down again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?”
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, for I am exactly that. Jesus, without denying that he is Lord and spiritual Teacher to his disciples, is going to himself teach about the meaning of washing feet to his followers. Calling and recognizing Jesus as your teacher or Lord is correct, but this is not enough to be his disciple; you also need to follow the example of Christ and wash each other’s feet. Why?

13:14

Let us return to the meaning of foot washing, which Jesus reveals already at the table:
14 Therefore, if I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
then you ought to wash one another’s feet. What did the example of a teacher show by washing only the feet of his pure disciples?
In the absence of Christ, his disciples will have to wash each other’s dirty feet: correct in the course of life all the “places” that are polluted by sins, and try to support each other on the path of Christ, so that none of them are accidentally lost to the Father due to “uncleanness.” legs." Diligent care for the preservation of each other's spiritual purity and the needs of each member of the Christian congregation is the main idea in foot washing. Moreover, the responsibility for washing the “feet” of the smaller one in the congregation is assigned to the “greater” one; the teacher washes the student’s feet, and not vice versa. For someone who is weak in faith cannot always cope even with the discovery of “dust” on his “feet,” so he needs the care of those who stand strong in faith. 13:16,17 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than him who sent him.
If Jesus is their Master, as they themselves believe, and they are slaves, then the slave cannot afford for the master to do the “dirty” work of serving others, while he, the slave, sits with folded arms. A slave should not be greater than the master. And if he believes that he is more, then he is no longer a slave of his master, but above his master he is the “master” himself.

17 If you know this, blessed are you when you do it.

It is necessary, in fact, to follow the example of the teacher in everything, in particular, “in the procedure of washing each other’s feet,” in caring for the elder over the younger, the strong over the weak, and in not considering it humiliating for oneself to condescend to each other’s needs first, without waiting until they ask for it. Jesus wants the disciples to be attentive to each other and try to notice who needs what.

13:18,19
I am not talking about all of you;
I know whom I chose. As we see, not everyone who considers themselves a disciple of Christ are actually his disciples. Even among the closest students, a traitor was discovered.

19 Now I tell you, before [it] comes to pass, so that when it comes to pass, you may believe that it is I...

Jesus predicted that one of them would betray him - before this came true, so that the disciples would once again be convinced of his chosenness by God, for a simple man, and a mortal cannot know or predict his path.

13:20
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives him whom I send receives Me;
and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me . Jesus also foretells the way for his disciples that they will be sent into the world by Christ to carry out a certain task. Just like he was sent into the world by his Father to perform a certain task. Actually, this is a close intertwining of the spiritual connection between the mission of Christ, the mission of his messengers to the world and the approval of God: both he and they will have to see to it that the world is saved from sin and death through the acceptance of Christ.

13:21
Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, saying, “Truly...one of you will betray Me.”
Although Jesus knew about Judas' betrayal, the approach of the hour when this man was to carry out his plan caused an inner shudder in Christ.

13:22
Then the disciples looked around at each other, wondering who He was talking about.
None of the students sincerely understood how this could happen? Which of them could become a traitor to the teacher: they all looked so decent people and none of them stood out as bad. They all walked and preached with Christ in the same way, were equally interested in spiritual teachings and the meaning of his parables, followed him everywhere equally and were even ready to die with him when they went to Bethany, and equally pushed all their earthly and personal interests into the background. And yet, it turned out that a scoundrel was hiding among them. You can imagine their panic when trust in each other is lost.

As we see, “appearance” is deceptive (we do not mean appearance, but those areas of life and behavior that are visible to carnal eyes).

13:23-25
​​And one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ breast.
24 Simon Peter made a sign to him and asked who it was that he was talking about. 25 He fell to the chest of Jesus and said to Him: Lord! who is this? Peter hoped that Jesus would name the traitor at least to his beloved disciple, the Apostle John, and therefore prompted him to ask about the traitor:

13:26,27 Jesus
answered, “He to whom I dip a piece of bread I will give.”
And, having dipped the piece, he gave it to Judas Simon Iscariot. 27 And after this piece Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly.” Since John leaned towards Jesus with a question, everyone else might not have heard Christ’s answer about who exactly the traitor was. This happens during dinner, when everyone eats Passover food: unleavened bread with meat, dipping bread in a sauce of bitter herbs. Jesus gives Judas bread, he calmly takes it and eats, finally deciding to betray Christ, thereby giving room for Satan to enter. Jesus does not focus attention on this, is not indignant, is not angry at the lack of understanding of the disciples, does not finish off Judas psychologically, but only asks him to betray him quickly, so as not to languish any longer in anticipation of the end. Judas and Christ have nerves of steel. Two worthy spiritual opponents collided in the spiritual arena: the devil and Christ.

13:2 8.29
But none of those reclining understood why He told him this.
29 And since Judas had a chest, some thought that Jesus was saying to him: buy what we need for the holiday, or to give something to the poor. None of those sitting at the table understands the words of Christ. Even John, to whom Jesus pointed out the traitor (perhaps he and Peter, who probably learned the answer from John, did not think that the events of betrayal would happen so quickly). Christ is alone in this situation, although there are 11 friends nearby. And this sometimes happens under the sun: we don’t have to be completely alone if God is with us. And you can be completely alone in the midst of friends and events.

So, the disciples did not understand the invisible fight between Christ and the devil, acting from that time on in Judas Iscariot, and only decided that Jesus instructed Judas to buy something to eat.

For more details about Judas and his betrayal, see the analysis of Matthew 26:21-50

13:30-32
He took the piece and immediately went out;
and it was night. 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” After Judas Iscariot left them in the dead of night, Jesus spoke to his remaining disciples about the essence of the glory of the son of God.
But no one, most likely, understood this phrase of Christ, because there was no reaction from the disciples to these words of Jesus. Jesus said this: he had just fought another battle against the devil, proving that God has sons for whom obedience to God is more important than preserving life (he glorified God by his obedience to Him). He did not panic, he allowed him to do his dirty deed in order to be able to die for humanity. Jesus did not frighten off the enemy with anything. And he was not afraid to be branded a blasphemer because of him. In a word, Jesus became famous for the fact that he “launched” the last stage of his stay on earth, a stage that should end with his sacrificial death and the redemption of humanity. 32 If God was glorified in Him, then God will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him.
Jesus predicted that God would soon glorify himself: he spoke about his imminent death, resurrection with the help of God and upcoming ascension into heaven - also with the help of God, your Father.

13:33
Children!
I won't be with you for long. You will seek Me, and, as I said to the Jews, that where I go, you cannot come, [so] I tell you now. After the departure of the traitor Iscariot, Jesus says goodbye to his remaining disciples, letting them know that he will not see them again, but without informing them that his place is first death and the grave, and then going to heaven, to God, where his disciples at the moment will not be able to come with Christ, as has happened until now (where Jesus goes, so do the disciples).
13:3 4 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
just as I have loved you, [so] let you also love one another. Experiencing fatherly love for them, so warm and tender in feelings that for him the students at this moment are like children. He gives them a new commandment

Although John does not report in his Gospel about the acceptance of the symbols of Christ’s sacrifice and the upcoming New Testament, he nevertheless reports that from now on the era of a new commandment is coming, in fact, a new Testament, in which the main driving force of the worshipers of God should be become love, that fundamental law of the New Testament, which must be written on hearts (circumcision of the heart or spirit, Jer. 31:31,33; Rom. 2:28,29) (For more details on the New Testament, see Mark 14:22-24 )

13:3 5
By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Ap.
Peter, clarifying the meaning of love, asked Christians that the disciples diligently
(the word 1619, ἐκτενῶς means diligently, diligently, zealously). Diligent, diligent, and zealous love involves more than just warm feelings for those we love. But also – our active actions and even willingness to sacrifice ourselves – for the benefit of those we love.

So, Jesus asks the disciples to have love among themselves. But not the kind that even the “pagans” of this world have among themselves (those who do not worship Jehovah), who actively help each other in misfortunes, comfort each other in problems, forgive each other with abundantly hospitable table reconciliations, maintaining peaceful relations with many acquaintances and loved ones and helping each other financially, etc. This is not what distinguishes the disciples of Christ among this world, for the pagans love the same way. The love of Christ's disciples among themselves

must surpass pagan love
among themselves.
That is, to what the “pagans” do out of love for each other, Christians must add even more. How is this possible? In what way should the love of Christians exceed the love of pagans among themselves?

For example, “pagans” lend, are hospitable and reconcile - with partiality: only with those with whom they need to maintain contact for some kind of interest and are biased in choosing friends (out of self-interest according to the principle “you - to me, I - to you” , Luke 6:32-34). And Christians are obliged to lend, to be hospitable and peaceful with all people without exception, even with enemies, and to treat them kindly, regardless of their position, financial situation, nationality, etc. - DISCLOSURE AND UNSELFLY (Luke 6:35).

Also, pagans can allow themselves hypocritical love (if they have a bad attitude towards a person - they can feign love if they need this person). And Christians are obliged to learn to love UNHYBLY (1 Cor. 6:6). That is, if for some subjective reason someone is unpleasant to them because of a difference in mentality, for example, Christians are obliged to look for at least something good in a person that will help them sincerely treat him kindly, and not just pretend to be kind.

But there is something else especially important that distinguishes the love of Christians from the love of pagans: among the disciples of Christ, love is special, spiritual. The task of their love comes down to protecting each other from spiritual falls and stumblings; to help those who have fallen to rise and support them until the fallen one stands firmly on his feet; so as not to encourage deviation from the path of Christ and to fight for every fellow believer who may inadvertently become lost to God.

All this can cause pain and spoil relationships, which is not typical for the world of “pagans”: in the world everyone fights only for themselves and does not spoil relationships with their own, since this can harm some of their common interests. The selfless struggle of Christians for each other's faith and spiritual well-being may not even seem like love to worldly people: reproof for misdeeds and a strict attitude towards those who sin so that they have a chance to correct themselves are incomprehensible to the world (Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:11).

But even if the world cannot understand such love of Christians among themselves, then God and His Christ are precisely because of this love (zealous interest in each other) - and will be able to see Christ’s disciples in them. What do we wish for ourselves and everyone, dear ones!

13:36-38
Simon Peter said to Him: Lord!
where are you going? Jesus answered him: Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but later you will follow Me. 37 Peter said to Him: Lord! Why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my soul for You. Peter honestly, sincerely and with firm confidence was ready to follow Christ to the ends of the world and to death at that moment when nothing threatened his life. But the spirit is vigorous, but the flesh is weak, and theory is always very different from practice: circumstances have changed in practice, and a person may begin to think differently. And therefore, whoever thinks that he is standing strong, always be afraid of falling into the abyss: this will help you not to come close and self-confidently to the edge of the abyss.

38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

. One can imagine how Peter felt when he heard such words about himself from Christ, for whom he was ready to die even now. And one can imagine the feelings of Christ, who knew for sure that he would remain completely alone in the most difficult and last hours of his earthly life. However, Jesus knew what was scary for his disciples was not the fall itself. And the reluctance to rise if one day a fall happens to them.

GOSPEL OF JOHN chapter 13

Listen to THE GOSPEL OF JOHN chapter 13 online

1 Before the Feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father, showed by deeds that, having loved His who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

2 And during the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Simon Iscariot to betray Him,

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father has given all things into His hands, and that He came from God and is going to God,

4 He arose from supper, took off His outer garment, and taking a towel, girded Himself.

5 Then he poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel with which he was girded.

6 He came to Simon Peter, and he said to Him: Lord! Should you wash my feet?

7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not know now, but you will understand later.”

8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.

9 Simon Peter said to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and head.

10 Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth only to wash his feet, for he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all.

11 For He knew His betrayer, therefore He said: You are not all pure.

Washing the feet. Artist Y. Sh von KAROLSFELD

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he lay down again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?”

13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, for I am exactly that.

14 If therefore I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do the same as I have done to you.

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than him who sent him.

17 If you know this, blessed are you when you do it.

18 I am not talking about all of you; I know whom I chose. But let the Scripture be fulfilled: He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.

19 Now I tell you before it comes to pass, so that when it comes to pass, you may believe that it is I.

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives him whom I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

21 Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”

22 Then the disciples looked around at each other, wondering who He was talking about.

23 And one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ breast.

24 Simon Peter made a sign to him and asked who it was that he was talking about.

25 He fell to the chest of Jesus and said to Him: Lord! who is this?

26 Jesus answered, “He is the one to whom I dip a piece of bread and give it.” And, having dipped the piece, he gave it to Judas Simon Iscariot.

27 And after this piece Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly.”

28 But none of those reclining understood why He said this to him.

29 And since Judas had a box, some thought that Jesus was saying to him: buy what we need for the holiday, or to give something to the poor.

30 He took the piece and immediately went out; and it was night.

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”

32 If God was glorified in Him, God also will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him.

33 Children! I won't be with you for long. You will seek Me, and just as I told the Jews that where I go you cannot come, so I tell you now.

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, let you also love one another.

35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

36 Simon Peter said to Him: Lord! where are you going? Jesus answered him: Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but later you will follow Me.

37 Peter said to Him: Lord! Why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my soul for You.

38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

Do this in memory of Me. Artist G. Dore

Chapter Thirteen

John 13:1. Before the Feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, revealed by deed that,

Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

The Lord knew the hour of His death before all centuries, and when it came, he created a work full of great love for mankind and condescension and showing great love for his disciples. For, intending to leave them, he discovers the strongest love for them. The words “having loved them, He loved them to the end” mean that He did not omit anything that should be done by one who loves deeply. Therefore, at the end of everything, he does this: he washes the disciples’ feet in order to fully show his love for them and in the future leave them great consolation in the midst of the disasters that befall them, consolation in the thought that he who loved them so much that he washed their feet will not leave them. them in disasters. “Transition” refers to the death of Christ due to His ascension after resurrection.

So, since He had to move from this world, He shows love for His own, and calls His disciples His own because of their closeness. God is His own and all people by the right of His creation, which is why it is said: “He came to “His”, and “His” did not receive Him” (John 1:11). But the saints are His own because they are close to Him, just as here He called His disciples His own. He added “those in the world” because there are others who are His own, for example, Abraham and the patriarchs; but they are not in this world, because they have migrated from here. He loved these of His own who were in the world to the end, that is, He showed perfect love for them.

John 13:2. And during the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Simon Iscariot to betray Him,

The evangelist, surprised that Christ washed the feet of the one who decided to betray Him, says: “When the devil had already put it in the heart of Judas.” So until the end He cared about the correction of the traitor. And the words “during the supper” were not put there without a purpose, but to show the inhumanity of Judas, since participation in the supper did not change him.

John 13:3. Jesus, knowing that the Father has given all things into His hands, and that He came from God and is going to God,

“Jesus, knowing that the Father has given everything into His hands,” that is, He has entrusted to Him the salvation of the faithful, and it is necessary to show them everything related to salvation, among other things, and to wash the disciples’ feet, for this legitimizes humility...

And otherwise: knowing that the Father handed over everything to Him and that He came from God and is going to God, and His glory will not decrease if He washes the feet of the disciples. For He did not steal glory so as to be afraid of losing it, and therefore not to undertake any humble task. A similar feeling is experienced by those who do not have true nobility. since they have stolen their glory, they do not even want to bend down, lest they lose what does not belong to them and what they have stolen. But He was the King of all and the Son of God. For this is what the words “came from God,” that is, from the essence of the Father, mean, and again “departs to God.” Therefore His glory, when He is so high and so great, will not be diminished if He washes the feet of the disciples. Please note, I ask you, that if humility is the work of one who comes from God and goes to God, then pride, obviously, will be the work of one who comes from demons and goes to demons.

When you hear that “the Father betrayed Him,” do not think that the Son’s powerlessness is revealed here, but unity of honor and like-mindedness with the Father. For if, because it is said that the Father betrayed Him, the Son seems to you powerless, then imagine the Father also powerless. For to Him, as the Apostle says (1 Cor. 15:24), the Son will “deliver the kingdom.” But this is not the case, and “tradition” means, so to speak, like-mindedness and cooperation and favor of the Father.

John 13:4. He got up from supper and took off his outer

clothes and, taking a towel, girded himself.

John 13:5. Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel with which he was girded.

Note also the excellent degree of humility. For he does not wash before supper, but when everyone has reclined, He alone gets up, and the rest rest. He lays aside His garments, teaching us to make ourselves unhindered and easy to serve. He girds himself with a towel, doing everything himself - washing and drying. He pours water, and does it himself, and not ordering someone else to do it. All this is an example and a law for us, how we should serve, namely: with all diligence, do everything ourselves, and not take advantage of the service of others.

John 13:6. He approaches Simon Peter, and he says to Him: Lord! Should you wash my feet?

The Lord did not wash Peter’s feet first, although he had precedence over the disciples, but perhaps the traitor, being bold and shameless, reclined above Peter, and the Lord washed his feet. Where can you see this? From the following. “He began,” it says, “to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them, “then” he approached Simon Peter.” From this it is clear that the Lord did not wash Peter first. For if the Lord had not washed someone before Peter, the evangelist would not have said, “He comes to Simon Peter.” Of the other disciples, none would have dared to accept the confession before Peter, but the traitor could have dared to do so. For if the Lord began to wash one of the other disciples, then this one, whoever he was, would not have allowed the Lord and would have said the same thing as Peter: “Lord, do You wash my feet?” But this objection did not come. This means that of the other disciples, the Lord washed the traitor first, then Peter. And the rest, admonished by the example of Peter, naturally did not contradict, but accepted such a high honor bestowed upon them by the Lord.

Consider also the power of the words of the Apostle Peter. Will You wash my feet with those hands with which You cleansed lepers, raised the dead, and opened the eyes of the blind? Are you, who did this and more than this, from me, a slave and unlearned, you will wash; and not the hands, not some other most honest member, but the legs, the last member of all, considered especially dirty and dishonest?

John 13:7. Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not know now, but you will understand later.”

What about the Lord? He says: “What I do, now you do not know; My work involves deep humility, which I teach you too. However, after you cast out demons in My name, when you see My ascension into heaven, when you know from the Holy Spirit that I am seated at the right hand of the Father, then you will understand that the One who humbled himself to the point of washing your feet, The same one gives you such power over demons and ascended and became glorified with the Father, without lowering himself at all from humility. Therefore, you yourself should introduce humility into yourself, which does not humiliate, but rather elevates.”

John 13:8. Peter says to Him: You will never wash my feet.

Peter deeply respects his Teacher, and therefore reveres Him and does not accept service from Him. Although in a different case Peter received a reproach from the Lord (Matthew 16:22-23), and in order to avoid that reproach he would now have to accept the washing from the Lord. However, since the work now being accomplished by Christ is very important, Peter resists, and does not think that the Lord, perhaps, will again reprimand him even more severely, as being disobedient.

Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.

What about Christ? He does not say to Peter, “I teach you humility and for this I wash your feet.” For Peter would have told Him, even with an oath, that even without washing my feet I would have humility. What does the Lord say to him? What, according to the knowledge of the Lord, could especially touch the heart of Peter, He poses to him, as it were, some kind of threat. “If,” he says, “I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Since Peter, more than all the other disciples, wanted to be with Christ, which is why he asked Him where He was going, and out of love promised to lay down his soul for Him (John 13:36-37), the Lord shakes his soul with a real threat. “If,” he says, “I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

John 13:9. Simon Peter says to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.

Peter, having heard such a terrible threat, was as strong in resistance as he was, and even more strong in expressing consent; for he also gives his head for washing. In both cases, he is guided by love: he resists delusion because he greatly honors the Lord; agrees because he does not want to be separated from Him.

And I ask you: when you see that someone strongly insists on his own due to foolishness and promises with an oath “I will not do this,” then, out of respect for the oath, he continues in what he did not discuss well and suffers because of this harm to the soul or body, then decently use the example of the Apostle Peter, who insisted on his own, but when he saw that his insistence could separate him from Christ, he left her behind.

John 13:10. Jesus says to him: he who has been washed only needs to wash his feet, because he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all.

John 13:11. For He knew His betrayer, and that is why He said: You are not all pure.

The Lord, having received a reason, denounces the traitor that he has an unclean thought and needs to be washed away from wickedness and change his intentions. “You,” he says, “having been washed, do not need another wash, but one is unclean and needs to be washed.”

Many people ask: why did the Lord say to the apostles “you are clean” when they had not yet been freed from sins, had not received the Spirit, since sin still reigned, the oath still retained its power, for the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world had not yet been slain, the Redeemer Ours from the curse was not yet hanged on a tree? In what sense were the apostles pure? We can say that although they were not completely freed from sins, they were “clean through the word that the Lord preached” to them (John 15:3), pure, at least in the sense that they had already accepted the Light, had already freed from Jewish error. For listen to how Isaiah teaches us to wash ourselves: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away wickedness from your souls” (Isa. 1:16). Therefore, the Lord rightly calls His disciples washed and pure, for they remained with Christ with all gentleness and simplicity.

By supper, some meant the knowledge of the mystery of Christ at the end of the ages, which Jesus teaches to His disciples; for which reason he also washes their feet, not because they are dirty, but in order to prepare them for the gospel, according to the saying of Isaiah: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of peace!” (Isa. 52:7).

“So,” he says, “you, as far as you yourself are concerned, are clean, but you must also be sent to cleanse others, which is expressed by washing your feet.” So, washing gives us the idea not of cleansing the apostles from sins, for they, according to the testimony of the Lord, are pure, but serves as a sign that they are sent to preach in order to convey the purity given to them through the teaching of the Master to others. Therefore Peter also says: “Wash not only my feet, but also my head”; that is, not only go to the sermon, but also cleanse my head through martyrdom.

Notice, perhaps, how this is happening now. For the supper still happens today, when during the Divine sacred rite the Divine Body and His Blood are presented. What kind of work is required of each of us? Listen. All of us who have believed in Christ have within ourselves the Word of God and the preaching of the Gospel, for we have all accepted Christ into our hearts; but in this Divine supper we must restore this Word and take away from it the garments that hide Him. Such garments are love of money, vanity, envy and each of the other passions that, leaning on the Word of God that is within us, burden it. So, when the Word rises, it is necessary to put aside passions so that It, having become light, can cleanse us through repentance. For the Word, having risen and laid aside all the heaviness and care of this life, will wash our thoughts, which learn from Him and follow Him, and will also wash our feet, that is, our active movements and actions. If anyone needs another cleansing, wants improvement in teaching and contemplation, let him say to the Lord: “Lord! wash not only your feet, but also your hands and your head, that is, cleanse not only my actions, but also your “hands”, so that I can lead others, and take up goodness, “and my head”, so that in a contemplative and theological sense I had a pure and impeccable concept of divine objects.” Thus, through confession we can wash ourselves in order to worthily partake of the supper, and not eat or drink “condemning ourselves” (1 Cor. 11:29).

John 13:12. When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he lay down again and said to them: Do you know what I have done to you?

The Lord no longer addresses His speech to Peter alone, but to everyone, and sets forth the reason for such humility on His part. The reason is that the disciples should imitate Him in this. Perhaps the Lord is not talking about the present time when he says to Peter, “You will know after this,” that is, “Peter, you will know after I take My garment and lie down, and begin to teach you and say: “You know.” what have I done to you?

John 13:13. You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, for I am exactly that.

John 13:14. So, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, then you should wash each other’s feet.

For if I, recognized by you as Lord and Teacher, and recognized truthfully, for I certainly am, washed your feet (and did not say “to you servants, unlearned and uneducated,” but left it to yourselves to understand), then you must also wash each other's legs, that is, to provide each other with every service.

John 13:15. For I have given you an example, that you also should do the same as I have done to you.

For through washing, which is considered the last service, it teaches that we must all the more perform other services, more honorable. “I have given you an example, that you also should do the same as I have done to you,” that is, serve with the same diligence. Although My work is greater, since I, the Lord, washed the feet of the slaves, and you wash the feet of slaves like you.

So we see that teachers write very beautiful letters for children, so that little by little they reach the point of imitation. The Lord instills this in the apostles out of necessity. They had the honor, some greater, others less.

John 13:16. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.

So that they do not become proud of each other, He purifies the thoughts of all of them. For “a servant is not greater than his master” while he is a slave, and “a messenger is not greater than him who sent him” while he is a messenger, and when he becomes greater, then he is neither a slave nor a messenger.

John 13:17. If you know this, blessed are you when you do it.

So that they don’t say, “Why are you telling us about this as if we don’t know? we ourselves know that humility is good,” therefore he says: “If you know, this alone is not enough, but you are blessed when you do it.” For the Jews also knew the commandments, but they are not blessed, but very unhappy, because they did not fulfill them.

John 13:18. I'm not talking about all of you; I know whom I chose.

With these hidden words he denounces the traitor and does not convict him at the same time, for he wanted to bring him to repentance. Therefore, omitting all the other benefits that he showed him, he puts forward the one that could most convert him.

“I’m not talking about all of you.” So as not to bring fear to many, He clearly separates him (the traitor) and shows that he is the only one plotting against Him. Therefore he says, “He who eats bread with Me.”

When Jesus said, “I know whom I have chosen,” what did that tell us about Judas? really chose him too? Yes, when he was good, he chose, like Saul (but he himself changed, for he is free; the Lord allows everyone to act according to his own will, because he does not take away freedom); and when Judas changed, he rejected him, although he had previously chosen him.

But let the Scripture be fulfilled: He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.

He who eats My bread, whom I feed, who shares the table with Me (which circumstance softens even enemies), he... did not say “betray” Me, but “he lifted up his heel against Me” (Ps. 40:10) , that is, he used deceit and cunning against Me, in the likeness of fighters who contrive against their rivals and, treading on their heels, overthrow them.

“Let the Scripture be fulfilled.” Understand this expression in the same way as other similar ones that we have often talked about.

John 13:19. Now I tell you, before that

it came true, so that when it comes true, you will believe that it is I.

John 13:20. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives him whom I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

What is the connection between these words and the previous ones? For hitherto he spoke about the traitor, and now he adds “he who receives him whom I send receives Me”? There is a connection, and the closest one.

The Lord said He would be betrayed; He said that He would leave them, that they would then disperse, be scattered, and suffer many disasters; therefore he consoles them in two ways. First, through Himself. For he showed them what He Himself would endure, and what He did to the traitor, washing his feet and allowing him to participate at the table. For if they have this in their souls, they will easily endure all kinds of disasters. So, one way is that the Lord consoles them with what He did to the enemy, healing him to the end, and what He Himself will endure.

Another way is that He opens the homes of everyone to them, so that everyone who listens to their teachings will accept them. Do you see the connection between these words and the previous ones? The Lord will leave them; they will suffer many evils and troubles; He consoled them with his own example, for he would be betrayed by the disciple, and wash him; comforts them and predicts to them that although they will experience many troubles, everyone will accept them. He who receives you receives Me, and through Me, God and the Father. Notice the power of consolation. “People will honor you,” he says, “as God Himself; Therefore, do not be discouraged by the malice of the persecutors.”

John 13:21. Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

The Lord, thinking that the traitor had lost both, patience in his labors and services from the people who would receive the apostles, “was troubled in spirit,” that is, he felt sorrow in his soul.

“And he testified.” This means: predicted, witnessed in advance, announced.

Some of the words “one of you” were understood as follows: “one will betray Me, he who has fallen from your presence and gone out from among you,” just as the expression behold, Adam became like one of Us” (Gen. 3:22) was explained quite elegantly: “ became like one who fell away from us, that is, the devil.” For just as he fell away, so through disobedience this one also became away from (outside) us, that is, he fell away from us.

John 13:22. Then the disciples looked around at each other, wondering who He was talking about.

Each of them recognized himself as pure, did not find any guile in his thoughts; but he considered the word of the Lord more reliable than his thoughts. Therefore they all mourn and are perplexed. For the announcement was made by Him Who is not false, and they were confident that it would certainly come to pass.

John 13:23. One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ breast.

Everything is in languor, and the Supreme Peter himself is in trepidation, and John, as if in joy, reclines in the bosom of the Lord. Why is this? And also, why does he say about himself “whom Jesus loved”?

John reclined for the following two reasons. Firstly, because he was loved more than all others, and reclining next to the Lord served as a sign of love. Secondly, because with courage and cheerfulness he wanted to show that he was free from accusations of treason. He testifies of himself that Jesus loved him, to resolve the confusion. So that you, hearing that Peter gave him a sign to ask, do not think that he gave him a sign as an elder, the evangelist says about himself that Peter gave him a sign not as a greater man, but as loved by Christ. Therefore, these words of his express humility, and not a desire to show off. For he does not say, “I loved Jesus,” but, “He loved me,” seeking me out of mercy and tender mercies, just as the Apostle Paul says, “I strive lest I may attain to what Christ Jesus has attained to me” (Phil. 3:12), and in another place: “Having known God, or rather, having received knowledge from God” (Gal. 4:9). Likewise, the words “whom Jesus loved” do not express vanity, but humility.

John 13:24. Simon Peter made a sign to him to ask who it was that he was talking about.

Why doesn’t Peter ask the Lord himself, but gives a sign to John? In many cases, Peter was impetuous out of great ardor, but was subject to censure. Therefore, now he was afraid to ask, lest the Lord reproach him this time for being impetuous.

John 13:25. He fell to the chest of Jesus and said to Him: Lord! who is this?

Why does John fall to the breast of Jesus so irreverently and indecently? Because he did not yet understand anything great about Christ, and they were not taught to give worthy honor to the venerable, for they were fishermen and ignorant of decency.

The Lord allows him to fall to his chest in order to ease his sadness, tame the confusion in his soul and generally calm his sorrow. For it is natural that a lot of sadness was expressed on their faces.

John 13:26. Jesus answered: the one to whom I dip a piece of bread and give it. And, having dipped the piece, he gave it to Judas Simon Iscariot.

The Lord, asked in this way, does not announce the traitor by name; but makes it known through a piece in order to convert the traitor and bring to his memory the fellowship in the table and bread, the participant in which should not have betrayed the Nourisher and raged against Him. “Take,” he says, “this bread that you shared with Me, realize that we had a common table.” But he, lulled in his soul by passion, did not understand this.

If you yourself want to recline closer to Jesus and fall to His breasts, and learn secrets from Him, try to earn His love through simplicity and kindness. For John was gentler, simpler and meeker than everyone else, and for this he was loved. So you too, if you are just as kind, will be worthy to fall to the breast of Jesus, which serves as a sign of theological dignity. For, according to the assurance of Scripture, the words of the Lord are hidden in the heart (Ps. 119:11). In this way the whole mystery and the betrayer of the Word will be revealed to you. For to the one who is entrusted with the grace of theology, a traitor to the Word also becomes obvious, that is, one who does not think according to the right faith. For the heretic who substitutes the word of truth, which is bread, turns out to have it not without admixture, but soaked.

John 13:27. And after this piece Satan entered into him.

The Lord gave a piece to Judas so that he would be ashamed of fellowship in the table and bread, and would refrain from betrayal. But Judas did not improve from this either, and henceforth he became even more on the side of Satan and, as incorrigible, completely surrendered to him.

As long as Judas was considered one of the disciples and members of the holy clique, until then Satan did not have such access to him. When the Lord separated him and separated him from the other disciples, declaring him through bread, then Satan took possession of him, as if he had been abandoned from the Lord and separated from the divine face.

“Satan entered into him,” that is, he penetrated into the depths of his heart and took possession of his soul. For Satan had previously attacked Judas from the outside, with the passion of love of money, and now he completely took possession of him, inspiring him with betrayal.

Then Jesus said to him, “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly.”

Jesus tells Judas, “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly.” By this, the Lord does not encourage Judas to betray, but, as it were, reproaches him for going to betrayal. With the word “do,” the Lord seems to say: “Here I leave you, do what you want; I don’t hinder your intention, I don’t hold you back any longer.” For before this, the Lord curbed the anger of Judas, observing the time of death for Himself, which is why He said: “No one takes My life from Me, but I give it Myself” (John 10:18).

John 13:28. But none of those reclining understood why He told him this.

And “none of those reclining understood.” It is worthy of study why no one knew this when the Lord, when asked about the traitor, said that he was the one to whom I would give the piece. Apparently, the Lord said this quietly only to John, so that no one else heard. Moreover, John, leaning to his chest, asks almost under the ear, so that the traitor was not announced. For otherwise Peter might have stretched out his sword and killed him. Did John really not recognize this? Yes, even he, for he did not expect that the student would be capable of such lawlessness. With his holy soul, being far from such malice, he did not imagine this to be easy for anyone else.

John 13:29. And since Judas had a box, some thought that Jesus was telling him: buy what we need for the holiday, or to give something to the poor.

So, no one understood the words “do it quickly,” but they thought that the Lord commanded Judas to buy something for the holiday or give something to the poor. For He cared a lot about the poor, and although He urged others not to have either scrip or copper, He Himself allowed them to carry a box with Him, showing that both the non-covetous and the one crucified to the world should have great care for this part of the people - the poor.

John 13:30. Having accepted the piece, he immediately left; and it was night.

"It was night when he came out." The Evangelist noted, not without purpose, that “it was night,” but in order to teach us that time did not interfere with Judas, but even at night he was busy with deceit.

It seems to me that Judas left at five o'clock in the evening, when Satan also entered him. For at the fourth hour Satan attacked Judas, namely: when the wife mentioned in the Evangelist Matthew (Matthew 26:6-16) shed myrrh, and Judas went and agreed with the Jews about betrayal. At five o'clock in the evening Satan entered Judas, that is, he took possession of his heart. For it is another thing to strike someone with your hand from the outside, and another thing to thrust a sword into him and hit him with it inside.

Judas “left” the Savior both sensually and mentally. “It was night,” perhaps a mental night, that is, the darkness of the love of money that covered him.

John 13:31. When he went out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”

Since the thoughts of the disciples had fallen, the Lord raised them up, saying, “Today the Son of Man has been glorified.” Convinces them not to complain, but rather to rejoice. For suffering and bringing honor to people through dishonor constitute His glory.

And otherwise: He became glorified through the miracles that happened on the Cross, namely: when the sun darkened, the stones disintegrated, the curtain was torn, and all other signs were accomplished.

John 13:32. If God was glorified in Him, then God will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him.

What does it mean that “God will glorify” the Son “in Himself”? That which He will glorify through Himself, not through another, not through angels and archangels, not through another power, but through Himself, for He did everything for the glory of the Son.

“He will soon glorify Him,” that is, he will not delay, but will glorify Him on the cross itself, then after three days he will resurrect Him and after forty days he will bestow upon the disciples the grace of the Spirit.

Let's also look at the purpose of these words. “Now is the Son of Man glorified,” that is, I, who teaches and performs miracles; and the glory did not stop with Me, but ascended to God and the Father. And as My glory becomes the glory of the Father, do not complain. For the Father will glorify Me again, so that He also may be glorified. For I do not attribute glory to Myself, and does it not ascend to Him? Yes, we have common glory. Therefore, He will glorify Me again, and will not delay, but soon, when I endure dishonorable suffering, when, apparently, I will be taken from among the living through death, then He will honor Me more, then through the resurrection He will glorify Me .

John 13:33. Children! I won't be with you for long. You will seek Me, and, as I said to the Jews, that where I go, you cannot come, so

and I’m telling you now.

Since they will soon be subject to disasters, the Lord predicts this to them so that they remember the disasters and prepare for them. This also serves for His glory. For announcing to the disciples in advance what would happen to them was no small glory for Him, when the disciples subsequently remembered that the Lord had predicted to them about this. Showing that not only now, for the first time, He would know, but also knew long ago that they would look for Him in temptations, He says that He, as one who had foreseen long ago, said this very thing to the Jews.

With the words “where I am going,” the Lord shows that His death is a transition and repose to a better place, where corruptible bodies are not accepted. He said to the Jews: “You will seek Me, and where I go, there

you cannot come” (John 7:34), in order to instill fear in them, and he speaks to his disciples in order to ignite love in them. For when we see that one of our friends is moving away, we are usually inflamed with ardent love for him, especially if he is leaving for a place where it is impossible for us to come. So, he says this to them in order to ignite love in them. That’s why he added “children,” so that they wouldn’t think that He told them this out of the same disposition as He told the Jews, but out of love. The Jews sought the Lord when their city was taken, and the wrath of God came upon them from everywhere, just as Joseph testifies that this followed them for the killing of Jesus. The disciples searched when they ran or experienced other sorrow. Therefore, in another place he says: “The groom will be taken away, and then the groom’s friends will fast” (Matthew 9:15).

So, the Lord predicts the future for both, but for some because of unbelief, for others because of love, so that they are not exposed to unexpected disasters.

John 13:34. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, so

and may you love each other.

Since they, having heard this, naturally could have become embarrassed, like people who will be left without help, He consoles them, saying: “Do not be sad, I give you a strong guard - love; if you have it, then, supported by each other, you will be invincible.”

Then, another could ask: “Lord! Why do You present love as a new commandment, when we know that love is also commanded in the Old Testament?” He adds: “As I have loved you, so should you love one another.” “Just as,” he says, “I loved you freely, without preliminary merits, even when human nature was in enmity with God and separation, I, however, took it upon myself and sanctified it, so you love each other freely.” ; and if your brother insults you, do not remember this.”

You see, the new commandment is to love your neighbor freely, even if you don’t owe him anything. And the Law said, “Thou shalt love thy friend,” commanding with love, as it were, to pay off a debt to a neighbor who began to love first.

John 13:35. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Showing that after His departure they will not be humiliated, but will become glorious, he says: “By this everyone will know.” You see, he announces that they will become famous among everyone, and this consoles them a lot. While remaining silent about the miracles they will perform, their distinguishing feature is love. For many of those who performed miracles will hear “I did not know you” (Matthew 7:23). If the entire universe was brought to faith by miracles, what is surprising? That’s why they had the power to create miracles, because they had love. And if they had fallen behind and separated from each other, then everything would have perished, and no one would have believed when they raged against each other, while what made them worthy of faith more than a miracle was that believers have “one heart and one soul" (Acts 4:32).

John 13:36. Simon Peter said to Him: Lord! where are you going?

Peter, having become bold out of great ardor, when he heard that the Lord said, “Where I am going, you cannot go,” asks: “Where are you going?” He seems to be saying to Christ: “What is this way that I cannot walk?” He asks about this, not so much wanting to know where He is going, but secretly expressing the thought that even though You have taken the most difficult path of all, I will follow You. So he loved to always be with Christ!

Jesus answered him: Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but later you will follow Me.

Therefore, Christ responds to Peter’s thought: “You cannot now follow Me, but later you will follow Me.”

John 13:37. Peter said to Him: Lord! Why can't I follow You now? I will lay down my soul for You.

But Peter is so uncontrollable in his striving that he even contradicts Christ. He is dissatisfied with the fact that he received good hope of following Christ later, but insists on his own and self-confidently says: “Why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my soul for You."

Look at the power of desire! Peter heard the Lord say that “greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13); Therefore, he himself strives for this degree and wants to achieve the highest love, which is why he promises to lay down his soul for the Lord.

John 13:38. Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

The Savior, showing him that He alone, and not some man, can promise this with confidence, says: “The rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times,” that is, now; for there is little time left.

The Lord spoke this late at night, and the first and second watch of the night had already passed. Since Peter contradicted out of great love, the Lord accepts love and cuts off the contradiction. Therefore, He deprives him of help from above and brings him to the knowledge of his weakness. For if you love, you must submit to Him Whom you love. I said you can't, but you contradict. From renunciation you will clearly learn that what I say cannot fail to come true. Therefore, sparing him, he allowed him to fall, so that he would not be subjected to this later, when he accepted the economy of the universe, but would know himself. And look how he fell: not once, but three times. Thus, abandonment from God exposes our powerlessness, and whoever is attentive finds in this the greatest benefit.