John 13:13-14
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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When Jesus affirms, "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am," He's not just accepting titles. He’s highlighting that the disciples' recognition of His authority and teaching role is spot on, setting the stage for the humble, servant leadership He's about to demonstrate by washing their feet. This moment underscores that true greatness in God's kingdom isn't about wielding power, but about serving with the authority He grants.
Jesus has just finished washing his disciples' feet, a profound act of humble service. He then asks them if they understand the significance of what he's done, before explaining that as their Teacher and Lord, he has set an example they should follow in serving one another.
The disciples called Jesus 'Teacher' and 'Lord.' But what did these titles truly signify to them, and what does it mean for us today?
When the disciples addressed Jesus as 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' they weren't just using polite forms of address.
The Teacher (Didaskalos)
This title, similar to the Jewish 'Rabbi,' acknowledged Jesus' role as an authoritative instructor. He didn't just share information; he revealed divine truth and guided his followers into understanding God's will.
The Lord (Kyrios)
This term carries immense weight. It signifies rulership, ownership, and supreme authority. For the disciples, 'Lord' pointed to Jesus' divine nature, his sovereignty over all creation, and his ultimate authority in their lives.
Jesus affirms their understanding, stating, 'you are right, for so I am.' He validates both aspects: his role as the ultimate revealer of truth and the sovereign King whose authority is absolute.
Jesus, the Lord of all, just washed his disciples' feet. How does this act redefine what it means to be a 'Teacher' and 'Lord'?
The act of foot-washing immediately preceding this statement is crucial. Jesus, who holds ultimate authority, stoops to perform a task usually reserved for the lowest servant. This isn't just a symbolic act; it's a demonstration of his core teaching.
Redefining Authority
True authority, as Jesus embodies it, isn't about lording power over others. It's about service. By washing their feet, Jesus shows that his 'Lordship' means leading through humility and selfless service. His 'Teacher' role involves not only imparting truth but also modeling righteous living.
The Call to Imitation
He explicitly states, 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.' This is not just an optional suggestion but a command flowing directly from his identity and actions. His authority compels us to serve others as he served us, demonstrating brotherly love through voluntary submission and practical care.
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.
While disciples used 'Teacher' and 'Lord' as common honorifics, Jesus affirmed these titles held deep, divine truth, especially after His resurrection, solidifying His authority as both the ultimate Teacher and the sovereign Lord.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
During Jesus' public ministry, disciples and followers frequently addressed him with honorific titles like 'Teacher' (Rabbi) and 'Lord' (Mar), acknowledging his authority and divine mission.
c. AD 30
The Last Supper
Jesus shared his final Passover meal with his disciples, a pivotal moment where he initiated new covenant rituals and offered profound teachings before his crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Washing of the Disciples' Feet
Jesus performed the humble act of washing his disciples' feet, an action meant to serve as a powerful example of humility and mutual service for his followers.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus was crucified and then resurrected, events that affirmed his identity as the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and the Lord who conquered death.
Jesus directly tells his followers not to be called 'Rabbi' (Teacher), because they have one Teacher, and all of you are brothers, directly aligning with his affirmation of his own title as Teacher in John.
Philippians 2:5-8This passage describes Christ's humility in emptying himself and taking the form of a servant, mirroring the example Jesus sets in John 13 by washing his disciples' feet, despite being Lord.
Colossians 1:15-17Paul describes Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, and the one through whom all things were created and hold together, underscoring the divine authority and Lordship that Jesus claims in John 13.
1 Peter 2:9Peter calls believers a 'royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,' echoing Jesus' affirmation of his own Lordship and his followers' belonging to Him as their Teacher and Lord.
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…
When Jesus affirms, "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am," He's not just accepting titles. He’s highlighting that the disciples' recognition of His authority and teaching role is spot on, setting the stage for the humble, servant leadership He's about to demonstrate by washing their feet. This moment underscores that true greatness in God's kingdom isn't about wielding power, but about serving with the authority He grants.
Jesus has just finished washing his disciples' feet, a profound act of humble service. He then asks them if they understand the significance of what he's done, before explaining that as their Teacher and Lord, he has set an example they should follow in serving one another.
Jesus has just finished washing his disciples' feet, a profound act of humble service. He then asks them if they understand the significance of what he's done, before explaining that as their Teacher and Lord, he has set an example they should follow in serving one another.
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"You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet." — When Jesus affirms, "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am," He's not just accepting titles. He’s highlighting that the disciples' recognition of His authority and teaching rol…
