Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights Jesus' profound awareness of his divine authority and impending return to the Father. This deep certainty of his ultimate triumph and kingship is precisely what fuels his astonishing act of washing his disciples' feet, proving that true greatness isn't about status but about humble service.
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, knowing that his "hour" had come to leave this world for the Father, and with the full awareness of his divine authority and impending return to glory, chose to demonstrate his profound love for his disciples. This happened right before the Passover feast, at a time when Judas was already plotting his betrayal, setting the stage for Jesus' ultimate act of humble service.
Imagine knowing you hold the keys to everything, yet choosing to serve. That was Jesus in this moment.
John 13:3 opens with a powerful declaration: 'Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands...' This isn't just a passive awareness; it's an active, deep-seated knowledge.
The Ultimate Commission
This profound self-awareness of His divine authority and eternal destiny isn't what we might expect to precede an act of ultimate humility. Yet, it's precisely because He knew who He was and what He held that His next action is so revolutionary.
What does someone with absolute power do when they love deeply?
The brilliance of this passage lies in the contrast. Jesus, fully aware of His divine status and impending return to glory, chooses to perform the lowliest task imaginable: washing feet. This wasn't a mere symbolic gesture; it was an intentional act flowing from His love.
The Paradox of Power and Humility
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Jesus shows us that true greatness isn't about lording power over others, but about using that power to serve and love them, even to the point of self-abasement.
This verse is spoken by Jesus in the intimate setting of the Last Supper, just hours before his arrest. His full awareness of his divine authority and imminent return to the Father provides the profound context for his act of humble service.
c. AD 30— this verse
Last Supper and Passover Feast
Jesus and his disciples gather for the Passover meal, the most significant Jewish festival, commemorating their liberation from slavery in Egypt.
c. AD 30
Jesus washes disciples' feet
During the meal, Jesus performs the act of foot-washing, a symbolic gesture of service and humility, just before his betrayal and crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Judas Iscariot's Betrayal
Judas, one of the twelve disciples, leaves the supper to arrange Jesus' arrest, fulfilling prophecy and setting the stage for Jesus' passion.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Arrest and Trial
Following the meal, Jesus is arrested, tried by Jewish and Roman authorities, and condemned to death.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified on the day of Passover and is resurrected on the third day, fulfilling his mission of redemption.
c. AD 30
Ascension to Heaven
After appearing to his disciples, Jesus ascends to heaven to be with the Father, returning to the glory he had before the world began.
This passage directly parallels John 13:3 by highlighting Jesus' divine nature and voluntary humility, explaining how He, knowing His equality with God, still chose to take on the form of a servant.
John 3:31This verse echoes the profound understanding Jesus had of His divine origin and destiny mentioned in John 13:3, emphasizing that 'He who comes from above is above all' and belongs to God.
Matthew 28:18This verse directly supports the statement in John 13:3 that 'the Father had given all things into his hands,' showing the scope of Jesus' authority and commission from God after His resurrection.
John 17:4-5These verses from Jesus' prayer reveal His awareness of His pre-existence and His return to the Father's glory, mirroring the knowledge of His divine origin and destiny expressed in John 13:3.
Colossians 1:16-17This passage speaks to the absolute sovereignty of Christ over all creation, aligning with the profound truth in John 13:3 that all things were given into Jesus' hands by the Father, and that He is the sustainer of all things.
calvinJohn 13:1-7: "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."
- Before the feast of the passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour was come, that he should remove out of this world to the Father, having loved his own, who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2. And after supper, [37] the devil having already put it into the heart o…
henryJohn 13:1-17: "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."
13:1-17 Our Lord Jesus has a people in the world that are his own; he has purchased them, and paid dear for them, and he has set them apart for himself; they devote themselves to him as a peculiar people. Those whom Christ loves, he loves to the end. Nothing can separate a t…
The verse highlights Jesus' profound awareness of his divine authority and impending return to the Father. This deep certainty of his ultimate triumph and kingship is precisely what fuels his astonishing act of washing his disciples' feet, proving that true greatness isn't about status but about humble service.
Jesus, knowing that his "hour" had come to leave this world for the Father, and with the full awareness of his divine authority and impending return to glory, chose to demonstrate his profound love for his disciples. This happened right before the Passover feast, at a time when Judas was already plotting his betrayal, setting the stage for Jesus' ultimate act of humble service.
Jesus, knowing that his "hour" had come to leave this world for the Father, and with the full awareness of his divine authority and impending return to glory, chose to demonstrate his profound love for his disciples. This happened right before the Passover feast, at a time when Judas was already plotting his betrayal, setting the stage for Jesus' ultimate act of humble service.
"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God," — The verse highlights Jesus' profound awareness of his divine authority and impending return to the Father. This deep certainty of his ultimate triumph and kingship is precisely what fuels his astonis…
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Last reviewed October 2026