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John 13

Our retelling next to the Bible text it comes from. Each row lines up one scene with the verses it retells.

Scene 1: Loved to the EndVerses 1 to 3

Scene by Scene

It was just before the Passover feast. Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and go back to the Father.

"Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end" (13:1).

They were eating supper. The devil had already put the idea into Judas's heart to betray Jesus. To betray means to turn against someone who trusts you.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things in his hands. He knew he had come from God and was going back to God.

Modern

1It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end. 2The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.

Scene 2: A Towel and a BasinVerses 4 to 5

Scene by Scene

So Jesus got up from the meal. He took off his outer clothes and wrapped a towel around his waist.

He poured water into a basin, a large bowl. Then he began to wash his disciples' feet and dry them with the towel.

The Lord was doing a servant's job.

Modern

4So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. 5After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.

Scene 3: "Never!"Verses 6 to 11

Scene by Scene

Jesus came to Simon Peter. "Lord, are You going to wash my feet?" Peter asked (13:6).

Jesus said, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand" (13:7).

"Never shall You wash my feet!" Peter said.

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me" (13:8).

Peter changed his mind fast. "Then, Lord," he said, "not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!" (13:9).

Jesus said that someone who has already bathed only needs his feet washed. "And you are clean, though not all of you" (13:10). He knew who would betray him.

Modern

6He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” 10Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Scene 4: An ExampleVerses 12 to 17

Scene by Scene

When Jesus had finished, he put his clothes back on and sat down with them again.

"Do you know what I have done for you?" he asked (13:12).

He said, "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, because I am."

"So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet" (13:14).

"I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you" (13:15).

A servant is not greater than his master. If they know these things, Jesus said, they will be blessed if they do them.

Modern

12When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Scene 5: Into the NightVerses 18 to 30

Scene by Scene

Then Jesus was troubled. "Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me" (13:21).

The disciples looked at one another. They had no idea who he meant.

The disciple whom Jesus loved was sitting right next to him. Peter signaled to him to ask who it was.

"Lord, who is it?" he asked (13:25).

Jesus said it was the one he would give a piece of bread to, after dipping it in the dish. Then he dipped the bread and gave it to Judas.

Jesus said to Judas, "What you are about to do, do quickly" (13:27).

No one else understood. Judas kept the money bag, so some thought Jesus was sending him to buy something or give to the poor.

Judas took the bread. Then "Judas went out into the night" (13:30).

Modern

18I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He. 20Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.” 21After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant. 23One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side. 24So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about. 25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him. 29Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as he had received the morsel, Judas went out into the night.

Scene 6: A New CommandmentVerses 31 to 35

Scene by Scene

When Judas had gone, Jesus spoke to the others.

He said the time had come for God to be glorified. Glorified means shown in all his greatness.

"Little children, I am with you only a little while longer" (13:33).

Then he gave them a new commandment. "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another" (13:34).

"By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" (13:35).

Later that night, Peter said he would die for Jesus. Jesus told him that before the rooster crowed, Peter would deny him three times (13:37-38).

Modern

31When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify the Son in Himself—and will glorify Him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

Between scenesVerses 36 to 38

Scene by Scene

This part isn't retold as its own scene.

Modern

36“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked. Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.” 37“Lord,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.” 38“Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.

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