Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet

He got up from dinner, took off his clothes, and wrapped himself in a towel. He put water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet. He dried them with the towel he had wrapped around himself. When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing puzzles you now, but later you will understand.”

Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!”

Jesus said to him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Very well, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and head as well.”

Jesus said to him, “He that has bathed only needs to wash his feet. Otherwise, he is clean and you are clean—but not all.” He said this for he knew who should betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.”

So, after he had washed their feet, he dressed again and sat down. He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me teacher and Lord and you speak correctly for that’s what I am. If I then, your Lord and rabbi, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.

I have given you an example showing that you should do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, the servant is not greater than his lord. Neither is he that is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things, you will be happy if you do them.”