Holy Week · Year C
Maundy Thursday
April 13, 2028
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-35 Working Preacher
A preaching commentary on the foot washing and the new commandment.
John 13, Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the whole chapter.
John 13:31-35 Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on the new-commandment verses.
Classic commentaries on John 13 BibleHub
Barnes, Ellicott, Gill and other classic commentators verse by verse.
John 13 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep word studies and cross-references gathering many sources on the chapter.
Maundy Thursday Sermons Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church collection of ready-to-use Maundy Thursday sermons.
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Why does Jesus wash the disciples' feet?
On the night he is betrayed Jesus rises, girds himself with a towel, and washes his disciples' feet, giving them the pattern and the new commandment to love.
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