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Lenten Season · Holy Thursday: Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper · Year A

John 13:1-15

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

April 2, 2026

Christ Washing the Disciples' Feet, Jan Lievens
Christ Washing the Disciples' Feet, Jan Lievens, c. 1630The Art Institute of Chicago
Lievens paints it almost entirely in brown and shadow, with the basin catching the only strong light in the picture.What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah asks the question; this is the answer performed.Jan LievensA Dutch painter who shared a studio with Rembrandt as a young man, was thought his equal at the time, and has been overshadowed ever since.The Art Institute of ChicagoFounded in 1879 as both a museum and a school, and the home of American Gothic and of a famous Impressionist collection.The Art Institute of Chicago
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 13:1-15Jn 13:1-15
Second Reading1 Cor. 11:23-261 Cor 11:23-26
First ReadingExod. 12:1-8, 11-14Ex 12:1-8, 11-14
Responsorial PsalmPs. 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18Alt. Psalmcf. 1 Corinthians 10:16cf. 1 Cor 10:16

Overview & Insights

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.” (John 13:14)

The new division in John’s Gospel is marked by a long, loosely connected, almost breathless comment by the narrator (vv. 1–3) in which he tries to gather up the themes of chapters 1–12 and 13–17 alike and use them as his stage setting. The first element in this setting has to do with time and circumstances: The notice that it was just before the Passover Feast (v. 1a) brings the temporal notices of 11:55 (“it was almost time”), 12:1 (“six days before”), and 12:12 (“the next day”) up to date. The further indication that the evening meal was being served (v. 2a) is a necessary minimum for making sense of verses 4–5. On the basis of the synoptic Gospels, the evening meal is commonly assumed to be Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, a Passover meal at which he instituted the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:12–26/Matt. 26:17–30/Luke 22:7–23; cf. vv. 21–30).

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Commentary

Commentary on John 13:1-17, 31b-35Commentary on Jn 13:1-17, 31b-35 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on the foot washing and the new commandment, the RCL Maundy Thursday reading covering this Gospel.

John 13 Commentary: Jesus, the Loving ServantJn 13 Commentary: Jesus, the Loving Servant Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik walks verse by verse through Jesus washing the disciples' feet.

John 13 CommentaryJn 13 Commentary Precept Austin

Extensive gathered notes and word studies on John 13.

John 13:1 CommentariesJn 13:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on Jesus loving his own to the end before the Passover.

Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper Agape Bible Study

Catholic study of the Lord's Supper readings, including the foot washing as a sign of servant love.

Background & Word Study

Gospel of John Summary (Overview Video)Gospel of Jn Summary (Overview Video) BibleProject

Animated overview of John's Gospel and its farewell discourse setting.

John 13:1 InterlinearJn 13:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word-by-word study of the opening of the foot washing narrative.

The Church Fathers

John 13 - Catena Bible & CommentariesJn 13 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic and medieval comment on the foot washing and the love command.

Sermons & Reflections

Lectionary essay for Maundy Thursday (Exodus 12, 1 Corinthians 11, John 13)Lectionary essay for Maundy Thursday (Ex 12, 1 Cor 11, Jn 13) The Christian Century

Ecumenical lectionary essay weaving the three Maundy Thursday readings together.

Worship & Prayers

Maundy Thursday (The Lectionary Page) The Lectionary Page

Episcopal collect and appointed texts for the Maundy Thursday liturgy.

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