You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just accept the titles "Teacher" and "Lord"; he affirms them as accurate declarations of his identity, especially in light of his act of washing their feet. This isn't merely about acknowledging his authority, but about revealing that his true lordship is expressed through humble service.
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just knelt and washed the disciples' feet, a shocking act of humility from their Teacher and Lord. He then asks them if they understand the significance of what he's done, implicitly contrasting his service with their own potential pride. He then affirms the titles they use for him—Teacher and Lord—but this acknowledgment sets the stage for a profound lesson on service and humility.
Jesus is called 'Teacher' and 'Lord' multiple times in this passage. What do these titles truly signify, and why does Jesus affirm them so strongly?
When Jesus says, 'You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am,' he's not just acknowledging polite titles. In the Jewish context, 'Teacher' (Rabbi) was a position of immense authority, one who interpreted and guided understanding of God's Word. 'Lord' (Mar) carried even more weight, signifying ownership, rulership, and divine authority.
Jesus affirms these titles because they perfectly capture his divine mission and identity. He is the ultimate Teacher, revealing God's truth in a way no one else can. He is the Lord, not just a human leader, but the divine Son of God with authority over all creation and salvation.
By affirming these titles, Jesus grounds the lesson that follows. His actions as a servant washing feet are not beneath him; they are the actions of the divine Teacher and Lord, setting an example of humble service that flows from his true identity.
Immediately after affirming his titles as 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' Jesus washes his disciples' feet. How can the highest authority demonstrate the lowest service?
The context of John 13 is crucial. Jesus has just shared his last meal with his disciples before his crucifixion. He knows his 'hour has come.' In this intimate moment, he performs an act of profound humility: washing his disciples' feet. This was a task typically reserved for the lowest servant in a household.
Jesus' act isn't a contradiction to his titles; it's the of his true nature as Lord and Teacher. He explains, 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.' (John 13:14). His divine authority doesn't lead him to demand service, but to model it. True leadership, Jesus teaches, is found in humble service to others.
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This redefines power. It's not about dominance, but about sacrificial love and a willingness to do the unglamorous work for the good of the community. It's about embodying the very love that led him to the cross.
Understand the original words
didaskalos · Greek Noun
A title of respect for one who imparts knowledge, but in the New Testament, it signifies Jesus as the ultimate authority on divine truth and the interpreter of God's will.
kyrios · Greek Noun
A term of sovereignty and authority, signifying the One who possesses absolute ownership, authority, and lordship over all creation and specifically over the lives of His followers.
Jesus' affirmation of his titles 'Teacher' and 'Lord' during the Last Supper gains immense weight because it happens just hours before his arrest, when his authority would be severely challenged and his disciples' understanding of his role would be tested.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, gathering disciples who call him 'Teacher' (Rabbi) and increasingly recognize his divine authority as 'Lord'.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus enters Jerusalem hailed as a king, a moment where the disciples' understanding of his identity and authority is tested and affirmed.
Evening of the Last Passover Meal— this verse
The Last Supper
Jesus shares the Passover meal with his disciples, a pivotal moment where he institutes new practices and offers profound teachings before his crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and rises from the dead, fundamentally validating his claims to be both Teacher and Lord, and confirming his divine authority.
Jesus directly tells his followers not to be called 'Teacher' or 'Master' (Lord), highlighting his unique authority and the reciprocal relationship of discipleship.
Philippians 2:5This passage calls believers to have the same mindset as Christ, who, though divine, humbled himself and took on the form of a servant, echoing Jesus' actions and words here.
1 Corinthians 1:10Paul urges the Corinthian church to be perfectly united and of the same mind, a unity that is rooted in acknowledging Christ as the ultimate authority, just as the disciples acknowledge Jesus here.
1 Peter 2:9This verse describes believers as a 'royal priesthood' and a 'holy nation,' emphasizing their calling and identity in Christ, which aligns with the authority and position Jesus claims.
barnesJohn 13:13: "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am."
Ye call me Master - Teacher. And Lord - This word is applied to one who rules, and is often given to God as being the Proprietor and Ruler of all things. It is given to Christ many hundred times in the New Testament. Ye say well ... - Matthew 23:8, Matthew 23:10. So I am - That is, he was their Teacher and Instructor, and he was their Sovereign and King.
calvinJohn 13:12-17: "So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?"
- After then he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, sitting down again at table, [45] he saith to them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13. You call me Master and Lord; and you say well, for so I am. 14. If I then, who am the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another's feet. 15. For I have g…
Jesus doesn't just accept the titles "Teacher" and "Lord"; he affirms them as accurate declarations of his identity, especially in light of his act of washing their feet. This isn't merely about acknowledging his authority, but about revealing that his true lordship is expressed through humble service.
Jesus has just knelt and washed the disciples' feet, a shocking act of humility from their Teacher and Lord. He then asks them if they understand the significance of what he's done, implicitly contrasting his service with their own potential pride. He then affirms the titles they use for him—Teacher and Lord—but this acknowledgment sets the stage for a profound lesson on service and humility.
Jesus has just knelt and washed the disciples' feet, a shocking act of humility from their Teacher and Lord. He then asks them if they understand the significance of what he's done, implicitly contrasting his service with their own potential pride. He then affirms the titles they use for him—Teacher and Lord—but this acknowledgment sets the stage for a profound lesson on service and humility.
"You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am." — Jesus doesn't just accept the titles "Teacher" and "Lord"; he affirms them as accurate declarations of his identity, especially in light of his act of washing their feet. This isn't merely about ackn…
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Last reviewed October 2026