Special teaching John chapters 13 through 17

I am doing a special teaching featuring the chapters of John’s 13 through 17 which feature Jesus washing the disciples feet as an example to them to Jesus’ pray for them in chapter 17. John chapters 14 through 16 feature some very powerful teachings by Jesus for His disciples and related discussions and conversation with His disciples during which He makes many promises to them and through the bible to us today. These are designed to make one’s walk stronger and better with Jesus, for He left us with them in love.

John chapter 13 is the place where He indeed washed His disciples’ feet as an example to love one another and then He makes that as His commandment that we love one another. Also in the chapter Judas goes out to betray Jesus and Jesus foretells of Peter’s denials of Jesus which will come much later in the book.

(John 13:1)  Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

(John 13:2)  And after supper, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him,

(John 13:3)  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,

(John 13:4)  He rose from the supper and laid aside His garments, and having taken a towel, He girded Himself.

(John 13:5)  Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to dry them with the towel with which He was girded.

(John 13:6)  Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?"

(John 13:7)  Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you shall know after this."

(John 13:8)  Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me."

(John 13:9)  Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"

(John 13:10)  Jesus said to him, "He that is bathed need only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."

(John 13:11)  For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."

(John 13:12)  So when He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, He reclined again, and said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?

(John 13:13)  You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say correctly, for so I am.

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

(John 13:15)  For I gave you an example, that just as I did to you, you also should do.

(John 13:16)  Most assuredly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than he who sent him.

(John 13:17)  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

(John 13:18)  I do not speak concerning all of you. I know those whom I chose; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'

(John 13:19)  From now on I tell you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe that I AM.

(John 13:20)  Most assuredly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

(John 13:21)  When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in His spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly I say to you, one of you will betray Me."

(John 13:22)  Therefore the disciples were looking at one another, perplexed about whom He was speaking.

(John 13:23)  Now there was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved.

(John 13:24)  Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to inquire who it might be about whom He was speaking.

(John 13:25)  Then, leaning back thus on Jesus' chest, he said to Him, "Lord, who is it?"

(John 13:26)  Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

(John 13:27)  And after the piece of bread, then Satan entered him. Therefore Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."

(John 13:28)  But no one reclining at the table knew for what purpose He said this to him.

(John 13:29)  For some were thinking, since Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, "Buy the things of which we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.

(John 13:30)  Therefore having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

(John 13:31)  When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in Him.

(John 13:32)  If God has been glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.

(John 13:33)  Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you.

(John 13:34)  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

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

(John 13:36)  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."

(John 13:37)  Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for You."

(John 13:38)  Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Most assuredly I say to you, the rooster shall by no means crow till you deny Me three times.

In John chapter 14 Jesus makes many promises such as making a place for us in heaven, coming to retrieve us (rapture implied), that we can do all Jesus has done in His ministry  and more and also to ask for He can and will do many things for us as will his Father. He promises the Holy Spirit as well. He does say though that He, Jesus is the only way to the Father (and as a result to heaven). Jesus also promises to give us His peace

(John 14:1)  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

(John 14:2)  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

(John 14:3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and I will receive you unto Myself; so that where I am, there you may be also.

(John 14:4)  And where I am going you know, and the way you know."

(John 14:5)  Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"

(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

(John 14:7)  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and you have seen Him."

(John 14:8)  Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."

(John 14:9)  Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He that has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

(John 14:10)  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words which I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who abides in Me does the works.

(John 14:11)  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, but if not, believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

(John 14:12)  "Most assuredly I say to you, he that believes in Me, the works which I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

(John 14:13)  And whatever you may ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

(John 14:14)  If you should ask anything in My name, I will do it.

(John 14:15)  "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

(John 14:16)  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may abide with you forever,

(John 14:17)  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, because He abides with you and shall be in you.

(John 14:18)  I will not leave you orphans; I am coming to you.

(John 14:19)  "Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.

(John 14:20)  In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

(John 14:21)  He that has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him."

(John 14:22)  Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, and what has happened that You are about to manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"

(John 14:23)  Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and we will make Our home with him.

(John 14:24)  He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

(John 14:25)  "These things I have spoken to you while I remain.

(John 14:26)  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and will remind you of all things which I said to you.

(John 14:27)  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

(John 14:28)  You have heard that I said to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I.

(John 14:29)  And now I have told you before it happens, so that whenever it may happen, you may believe.

(John 14:30)  I will no longer speak many things with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

(John 14:31)  But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father has charged Me, thus I do. Rise up, let us go from here.

In John chapter 15 Jesus gives a powerful teaching stating that He is the vine and we the branches and apart from Him we can do nothing nor bear fruit, yet the Father will prune us to bear even more fruit. He restates His commandment to love one another and that He would call us friends too for doing so. People will do to us as they did Him, too, for the world now has no excuse for their sin- as it has been revealed and some will hate because of that. He also restates the promise of the Holy Spirit as helper

(John 15:1)  "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

(John 15:2)  Every branch in Me which does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch which bears fruit He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.

(John 15:3)  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

(John 15:4)  Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit on its own, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

(John 15:5)  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; because apart from Me you can do nothing.

(John 15:6)  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

(John 15:7)  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what ever you may desire, and it shall be done for you.

(John 15:8)  By this My Father is glorified, that you may bear much fruit; and you will become My disciples.

(John 15:9)  "Just as the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

(John 15:10)  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and I abide in His love.

(John 15:11)  These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may abide in you, and that your joy may be full.

(John 15:12)  This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

(John 15:13)  Greater love has no one than this, that one should lay down his life on behalf of his friends.

(John 15:14)  You are My friends if you do what I command you.

(John 15:15)  No longer do I call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things which I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

(John 15:16)  You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you may ask the Father in My name He may give to you.

(John 15:17)  These things I command you, that you may love one another.

(John 15:18)  "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

(John 15:19)  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

(John 15:20)  Remember the word which I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

(John 15:21)  But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

(John 15:22)  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse concerning their sin.

(John 15:23)  He who hates Me hates My Father also.

(John 15:24)  If I had not done the works among them which no one else has done, they would have no sin; but now they have both seen and they have hated both Me and My Father.

(John 15:25)  But this was so that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without cause.'

(John 15:26)  "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.

(John 15:27)  And you also will testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

In John chapter 16 Jesus says that He makes these teachings so that we might not stumble, and also states that the Holy Spirit comes to convict the world of sin. He also makes many promises to His disciples then and now such as of those of peace and joy and encourages us to ask Him for things so that we can have and that our joy may be made full (in Him)

(John 16:1)  "These things I have spoken to you, so that you should not be made to stumble.

(John 16:2)  They will excommunicate you; but a time is coming when everyone who kills you will think that he is offering God a service.

(John 16:3)  And these things they will do to you because they did not know the Father nor Me.

(John 16:4)  But these things I have spoken to you, so that when the time comes, you may remember them, that I told you. But these things I did not say to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

(John 16:5)  "But now I am going to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'

(John 16:6)  "But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

(John 16:7)  Nevertheless I speak the truth to you. It is profitable for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

(John 16:8)  And when He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

(John 16:9)  of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

(John 16:10)  of righteousness, because I am going to My Father and you see Me no more;

(John 16:11)  of judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

(John 16:12)  I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

(John 16:13)  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will announce to you things to come.

(John 16:14)  He will glorify Me, for He will take from what is Mine and He will announce it to you.

(John 16:15)  All things which the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He takes from what is Mine and will announce it to you.

(John 16:16)  "A little while and you will not see Me; and again a little while and you will see Me, because I am going to the Father."

(John 16:17)  Then some of His disciples said to one another, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while and you will not see Me; and again a little while and you will see Me'; and, 'I am going to the Father'?"

(John 16:18)  Therefore they said, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not understand what He is saying."

(John 16:19)  Now Jesus knew that they were desiring to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring with one another that I said, 'A little while and you will not see Me; and again a little while and you will see Me'?

(John 16:20)  Most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be grieved, but your grief will be turned into joy.

(John 16:21)  A woman, whenever she gives birth, has sorrow, because her hour has come; but whenever the child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish, on account of the joy that a human being has been born into the world.

(John 16:22)  Therefore you also now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

(John 16:23)  And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

(John 16:24)  Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

(John 16:25)  "These things I have spoken to you in figures of speech; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.

(John 16:26)  In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will beseech the Father for you;

(John 16:27)  for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.

(John 16:28)  I came forth from the Father and I have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and I am going to the Father."

(John 16:29)  His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!

(John 16:30)  Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God."

(John 16:31)  Jesus answered them, "Now do you believe?

(John 16:32)  Indeed a time is coming, and now has come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and you will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

(John 16:33)  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but have courage, I have overcome the world."

In John chapter 17 Jesus then prays to the Father for the sake of His disciples and for them too, asking the Father to help them and keep them from the evil one and many other things. It is a powerful prayer

(John 17:1)  Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the time has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

(John 17:2)  just as You have given Him authority over all flesh, so that He will give eternal life to all You have given Him.

(John 17:3)  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

(John 17:4)  I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

(John 17:5)  And now, O Father, glorify Me alongside Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

(John 17:6)  I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You have given them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

(John 17:7)  Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.

(John 17:8)  Because I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and they knew truly that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

(John 17:9)  I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.

(John 17:10)  And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I have been glorified in them.

(John 17:11)  And I am no longer in the world, yet these are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name which You have given to Me, that they may be one just as We are.

(John 17:12)  When I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You have given Me I guarded; and not one of them is lost except the son of perdition, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

(John 17:13)  But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

(John 17:14)  I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

(John 17:15)  I do not ask that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

(John 17:16)  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

(John 17:17)  Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth.

(John 17:18)  Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

(John 17:19)  And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

(John 17:20)  "I am not praying for these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word;

(John 17:21)  so that they all may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

(John 17:22)  And the glory which You have given to Me, I have given to them, so that they may be one just as We are one:

(John 17:23)  I in them, and You in Me; so that they may be perfected in unity, and so that the world may know that You have sent Me, and You loved them just as You loved Me.

(John 17:24)  Father, I desire that those also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, so that they may behold My glory which You gave to Me; because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

(John 17:25)  O righteous Father! Indeed the world did not know You, yet I knew You; and these knew that You sent Me.

(John 17:26)  And I made known to them Your name, and I will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

Jesus made His teaching for His disciples and even washed their feet as an example for us to be loving to one another as He indeed commands us to be. Jesus also knew what was to take place soon, His sacrifice for our sins, to restore the relationship between God and man which was severed by those same sins. He gave His life willingly and lovingly wanting this relationship restored too. There is nothing that can be compared with the relationship between God and man. The world offers nothing at all even remotely close. I am now including a prayer which you can pray to invite Jesus into your heart in order to begin this wonderful love relationship. Please pray this prayer with me

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours