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John 13:1. Before the Feast of Easter, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, showed by deed that, having loved His beings in the world, He loved them to the end. The Lord knew the hour of His death before all centuries, and when it came, he created a work full of great love for mankind and condescension and showing great love for his disciples. For, intending to leave them, he discovers the strongest love for them. The words “having loved them, He loved them to the end” mean that He did not omit anything that should be done by one who loves deeply. Therefore, at the end of everything, he does this: he washes the disciples’ feet in order to fully show his love for them and in the future leave them great consolation in the midst of the disasters that befall them, consolation in the thought that he who loved them so much that he washed their feet will not leave them even in disasters. “Transition” refers to the death of Christ due to His ascension after resurrection. So, since He had to move from this world, He shows love for His own, and calls His disciples His own because of their closeness. God is His own and all people are by the right of His creation, which is why it is said: “He came to “His”, and “His” did not receive Him” (John 1:11). But the saints are His own because they are close to Him, just as here He called His disciples His own. He added “those in the world” because there are others of His own, for example, Abraham and the patriarchs; but they are not in this world, because they have migrated from here. He loved these of His own who were in the world to the end, that is, He showed perfect love for them. John 13:2. And during the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Simon Iscariot to betray Him, The evangelist, surprised that Christ washed the feet of the one who decided to betray Him, says: “When the devil had already put it in the heart of Judas.” So until the end He cared about the correction of the traitor. And the words “during the supper” were not put there without a purpose, but to show the inhumanity of Judas, since participation in the supper did not change him. John 13:3. Jesus, knowing that the Father has given all things into His hands, and that He came from God and is going to God, “Jesus, knowing that the Father has given everything into His hands,” that is, He has entrusted to Him the salvation of the faithful, and it is necessary to show them everything related to salvation, among other things, and to wash the feet of the disciples, for this legitimizes humility... And otherwise: knowing that the Father handed over everything to Him and that He came from God and is going to God, and His glory will not decrease if He washes the feet of the disciples. For He did not steal glory so as to be afraid of losing it, and therefore not to undertake any humble task. A similar feeling is experienced by those who do not have true nobility. Since they have stolen their glory, they do not even want to bend down, lest they lose what does not belong to them and what they have stolen. But He was the King of all and the Son of God. For this is what the words “came from God” mean, that is, from the essence of the Father, and again “departs to God.” Therefore His glory, when He is so high and so great, will not be diminished if He washes the feet of the disciples. Please note, I ask you, that if humility is the work of one who comes from God and goes to God, then pride, obviously, will be the work of one who comes from demons and goes to demons. When you hear that “the Father betrayed Him,” do not think that the Son’s powerlessness is revealed here, but unity of honor and like-mindedness with the Father. For if, because it is said that the Father betrayed Him, the Son seems to you powerless, then imagine the Father also powerless. For even to Him, as the Apostle says (1 Cor. 15:24), the Son will “deliver the kingdom.” But this is not the case, and “tradition” means, so to speak, like-mindedness and cooperation, and the favor of the Father. John 13:4. He got up from supper, took off His outer clothing and, taking a towel, girded Himself. John 13:5. Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel with which he was girded. Note also the excellent degree of humility. For he does not wash before supper, but when everyone has reclined, He alone gets up, while the rest rest. He lays aside His garments, teaching us to make ourselves unhindered and easy to serve. He girds himself with a towel, doing everything himself - washing and drying. He pours water, and does it himself, and not ordering someone else to do it. All this is an example and a law for us, how we should serve, namely: with all diligence, do everything ourselves, and not take advantage of the service of others. John 13:6. He approaches Simon Peter, and he says to Him: Lord! Should you wash my feet? The Lord did not wash Peter’s feet first, although he had primacy over the disciples, but perhaps the traitor, being bold and shameless, reclined above Peter, and the Lord washed his feet. Where can you see this? From the following. “He began,” it is said, “to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them, “then” he approaches Simon Peter.” From this it is clear that the Lord did not wash Peter first. For if the Lord had not washed someone before Peter, the evangelist would not have said, “He comes to Simon Peter.” Of the other disciples, none would have dared to accept the confession before Peter, but the traitor could have dared to do so. For if the Lord began to wash one of the other disciples, then this one, whoever he was, would not have allowed the Lord and would have said the same thing as Peter: “Lord, do You wash my feet?” But this objection did not come. This means that of the other disciples, the Lord washed the traitor first, then Peter. And the rest, admonished by the example of Peter, naturally did not contradict, but accepted such a high honor bestowed upon them by the Lord. Consider also the power of the words of the Apostle Peter. Will You wash my feet with those hands with which You cleansed lepers, raised the dead, and opened the eyes of the blind? Are you, who did this and more than this, from me, a slave and unlearned, you will wash; and not the hands, not some other most honest member, but the legs, the last member of all, considered especially dirty and dishonest? John 13:7. Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not know now, but you will understand later.” What about the Lord? He says: “What I do, now you do not know; My work involves deep humility, which I teach you too. However, after you cast out demons in My name, when you see My ascension into heaven, when you learn from the Holy Spirit that I am seated at the right hand of the Father, then you will understand that the One who humbled himself to the point of washing your feet is the One who gives you such power over the demons and ascended and became glorified with the Father, without being humbled in the least by humility. Therefore, you yourself should introduce humility into yourself, which does not humiliate, but rather elevates.” John 13:8. Peter says to Him: You will never wash my feet. Peter deeply respects his Teacher, and therefore reveres Him and does not accept service from Him. Although, in a different case, Peter received a reproach from the Lord (Matthew 16:22-23), and in order to avoid that reproach he would now have to accept the washing from the Lord. However, since the work now being accomplished by Christ is very important, Peter resists, and does not think that the Lord, perhaps, will again reprimand him even more severely, as being disobedient. Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me. What about Christ? He does not say to Peter, “I teach you humility and for this I wash your feet.” For Peter would have told Him, even with an oath, that even without washing my feet I would have humility. What does the Lord say to him? What, according to the knowledge of the Lord, could especially touch the heart of Peter, He poses to him, as it were, some kind of threat. “If,” he says, “I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Since Peter, more than all the other disciples, wanted to be with Christ, which is why he asked Him where He was going, and out of love promised to lay down his soul for Him (John 13:36-37), the Lord shakes his soul with a real threat. “If,” he says, “I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:9. Simon Peter says to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. Peter, having heard such a terrible threat, was as strong in resistance as he was, and even more, in expressing consent; for he also gives his head for washing. In both cases, he is guided by love: he resists delusion because he greatly honors the Lord; agrees because he does not want to be separated from Him. And I ask you: when you see that someone strongly insists on his own way out of foolishness and promises with an oath “I will not do this and that,” then, out of respect for the oath, remains in something that he did not discuss well and because of this suffers harm in soul or body, then decently use the example of the Apostle Peter, who insisted on his own, but when he saw that his insistence could separate him from Christ, he left her behind. John 13:10. Jesus says to him: he who has been washed only needs to wash his feet, because he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all. John 13:11. For He knew His betrayer, and that is why He said: You are not all pure. The Lord, having received a reason, denounces the traitor that he has an unclean thought and needs to be washed away from wickedness and change his intentions. “You,” he says, “having been washed, do not need another wash, but one is unclean and needs to be washed.” Many ask: why did the Lord say to the apostles “you are clean” when they had not yet been freed from sins, had not received the Spirit, since sin still reigned, the oath still retained its power, for the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world had not yet been slain, our Redeemer from the curse had not yet been hanged on the tree? In what sense were the apostles pure? We can say that although they were not completely freed from sins, they were “pure through the word that the Lord preached” to them (John 15:3), pure, at least in the sense that they had already accepted the Light, had already been freed from Jewish error. For listen to how Isaiah teaches us to wash ourselves: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove wickedness from your souls” (Isa. 1:16). Therefore, the Lord rightly calls His disciples washed and pure, for they remained with Christ with all gentleness and simplicity. By supper, some meant the knowledge of the mystery of Christ at the end of the ages, which Jesus teaches to His disciples; for which he also washes their feet, not because they are dirty, but in order to prepare them for the gospel, according to the saying of Isaiah: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of peace!” (Isa. 52:7). “So,” he says, “you, as far as you yourself are concerned, are clean, but you must also be sent to cleanse others, which is expressed by washing your feet.” So, washing gives us the idea not of cleansing the apostles from sins, for they, according to the testimony of the Lord, are pure, but serves as a sign that they are sent to preach in order to convey the purity given to them through the teaching of the Master to others. Therefore Peter also says: “Wash not only my feet, but also my head”; that is, not only go to the sermon, but also cleanse my head through martyrdom. Notice, perhaps, how this is happening now. For the supper still happens today, when during the Divine sacred rite the Divine Body and Blood are presented. What kind of work is required of each of us? Listen. All of us who have believed in Christ have within ourselves the word of God and the preaching of the Gospel, for we have all accepted Christ into our hearts; but at this Divine Supper we must restore this word and remove from it the garments that hide it. Such garments are love of money, vanity, envy and each of the other passions that, leaning on the word of God that is within us, burden it. So, when the word arises, we need to put aside passions so that it, becoming light, can cleanse us through repentance. For the word, having risen and put aside all the heaviness and care of this life, will wash our thoughts, which learn from it and follow it, and will also wash our feet, that is, our active movements and our actions. If anyone needs another cleansing, wants improvement in teaching and contemplation, let him say to the Lord: “Lord! wash not only your feet, but also your hands and your head, that is, cleanse not only my actions, but also your “hands,” so that I can lead others, and take up goodness, “and my head,” so that in a contemplative and theological sense I have a pure and impeccable concept of divine objects.” Thus, through confession we can wash ourselves in order to worthily partake of the supper, and not eat or drink “condemnation to ourselves” (1 Cor. 11:29). John 13:12. When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he lay down again and said to them: Do you know what I have done to you? The Lord no longer addresses His speech to Peter alone, but to everyone, and sets forth the reason for such humility on His part. The reason is that the disciples should imitate Him in this. Perhaps the Lord is not talking about the present time when he says to Peter, “You will know after this,” that is, “Peter, you will know after I take My garment and lie down and begin to teach you and say: “Do you know what I have done to you?” John 13:13. You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, for I am exactly that. John 13:14. So, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, then you should wash each other’s feet. For if I, recognized by you as Lord and Teacher, and recognized truthfully, for I certainly am, washed your feet (and did not say “to you servants, unlearned and uneducated,” but left it to yourselves to understand), then you must also wash each other’s feet, that is, render each other every service. John 13:15. For I have given you an example, that you also should do the same as I have done to you. For through washing, which is considered the last service, it teaches that we should all the more perform other services, more honorable. “I have given you an example, so that you should do the same as I have done to you,” that is, serve with the same diligence. Although My work is greater, since I, the Lord, washed the feet of the slaves, and you wash the feet of slaves like you. So we see that teachers also write very beautiful letters for children, so that little by little they reach the point of imitation. The Lord instills this in the apostles out of necessity. They had the honor to receive, some greater, others less. John 13:16. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. So that they do not become proud of each other, He purifies the thoughts of all of them. For “a servant is not greater than his master” while he is a slave, nor “a messenger is not greater than him who sent him” while he is a messenger, and when he becomes greater, then he is neither a slave nor a messenger. John 13:17. If you know this, blessed are you when you do it. So that they don’t say, “Why are you telling us about this as if we don’t know? we ourselves know that humility is good,” therefore he says: “If you know, this alone is not enough, but you are blessed when you do it.” For the Jews also knew the commandments, but they are not blessed, but very unhappy, because they did not fulfill them. John 13:18. I'm not talking about all of you; I know whom I chose. With these hidden words he denounces the traitor and does not convict him at the same time, for he wanted to bring him to repentance. Therefore, omitting all the other benefits that he showed him, he puts forward the one that could most convert him. “I’m not talking about all of you.” So as not to bring fear to many, He clearly separates him (the traitor) and shows that he is the only one plotting against Him. Therefore he says, “He who eats bread with Me.” When Jesus said, “I know whom I have chosen,” what did that tell us about Judas? really chose him too? Yes, when he was good, he chose, like Saul (but he himself changed, for he is free; the Lord allows everyone to act according to his own will, because he does not take away freedom); and when Judas changed, he rejected him, although he had previously chosen him. But let the Scripture be fulfilled: He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me. He who eats My bread, whom I feed, who shares the table with Me (a circumstance that softens even enemies), he... did not say “betray” Me, but “he lifted up his heel against Me” (Ps. 40:10), that is, he used deceit and cunning against Me, in the likeness of wrestlers who contrive against their rivals and, treading their heels, bring them down. "Let the Scripture be fulfilled." Understand this expression in the same way as other similar ones that we have often talked about. John 13:19. Now I tell you before it comes to pass, so that when it comes to pass, you may believe that it is I. John 13:20. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives him whom I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. What is the connection between these words and the previous ones? For hitherto he spoke about the traitor, and now he adds “he who receives him whom I send receives Me”? There is a connection, and the closest one. The Lord said He would be betrayed; He said that He would leave them, that they would then disperse, be scattered, and suffer many disasters; therefore he consoles them in two ways. First, through Himself. For he showed them what He Himself would endure, and what He did to the traitor, washing his feet and allowing him to participate at the table. For if they have this in their souls, they will easily endure all kinds of disasters. So, one way is that the Lord consoles them with what He did to the enemy, healing him to the end, and what He Himself will endure. Another way is that He opens the houses of all to them, so that all who listen to their teachings will accept them. Do you see the connection between these words and the previous ones? The Lord will leave them; they will suffer many evils and troubles; He consoled them with his own example, for he would be betrayed by the disciple, and wash him; comforts them and predicts to them that although they will experience many troubles, everyone will accept them. He who receives you receives Me, and through Me, God and the Father. Notice the power of consolation. “People,” he says, “will honor you as God Himself; Therefore, do not be discouraged by the malice of the persecutors.” John 13:21. Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” The Lord, thinking that the traitor had lost both, patience in his labors and services from the people who would receive the apostles, “was troubled in spirit,” that is, he felt sorrow in his soul. "And he testified". This means: predicted, witnessed in advance, announced. Some of the words “one of you” were understood as follows: “one will betray Me, who has fallen from your presence and gone out from among you,” just like the expression, behold, Adam has become like one of Us” (Gen. 3:22) explained quite elegantly: “he has become like one who fell away from us, that is, the devil.” For just as he fell away, so through disobedience this one also became away from (outside) us, that is, he fell away from us. John 13:22. Then the disciples looked around at each other, wondering who He was talking about. Each of them recognized himself as pure, did not find any guile in his thoughts; but he considered the word of the Lord more reliable than his thoughts. Therefore they all mourn and are perplexed. For the announcement was made by Him Who is not false, and they were confident that it would certainly come to pass. John 13:23. One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ breast. Everything is in languor, and the Supreme Peter himself is in trepidation, and John, as if in joy, reclines in the bosom of the Lord. Why is this? And also, why does he say about himself “whom Jesus loved”? John reclined for the following two reasons. Firstly, because he was loved more than all others, and reclining next to the Lord served as a sign of love. Secondly, because with courage and cheerfulness he wanted to show that he was free from accusations of treason. He testifies of himself that Jesus loved him, to resolve the confusion. So that you, hearing that Peter gave him a sign to ask, do not think that he gave him a sign as an elder, the evangelist says about himself that Peter gave him a sign not as a greater man, but as loved by Christ. Therefore, these words of his express humility, and not a desire to show off. For he does not say “I loved Jesus,” but “He loved me,” seeking me out of mercy and bounty, just as the Apostle Paul says: “I strive lest I may attain as Christ Jesus has attained to me” (Phil. 3:12), and in another place: “Having come to know God, or, better yet, having received knowledge from God” (Gal. 4:9). Likewise, the words “whom Jesus loved” do not express vanity, but humility. John 13:24. Simon Peter made a sign to him to ask who it was that he was talking about. Why doesn’t Peter ask the Lord himself, but gives a sign to John? In many cases, Peter was impetuous out of great ardor, but was subject to censure. Therefore, now he was afraid to ask, lest the Lord reproach him this time for being impetuous. John 13:25. He fell to the chest of Jesus and said to Him: Lord! who is this? Why does John fall to the breast of Jesus so irreverently and indecently? Because he did not yet understand anything great about Christ, and they were not taught to give worthy honor to the venerable, for they were fishermen and ignorant of decency. The Lord allows him to fall to his chest in order to ease his sadness, tame the confusion in his soul and generally calm his sorrow. For it is natural that a lot of sadness was expressed on their faces. John 13:26. Jesus answered: the one to whom I dip a piece of bread and give it. And, having dipped the piece, he gave it to Judas Simon Iscariot. The Lord, asked in this way, does not announce the traitor by name; but makes it known through a piece in order to convert the traitor and bring to his memory the fellowship in the table and bread, the participant in which should not have betrayed the Nourisher and raged against Him. “Take,” he says, “this bread that you shared with Me, realize that we had a common table.” But he, lulled in his soul by passion, did not understand this. If you yourself want to recline closer to Jesus and fall to His breasts, and learn secrets from Him, try to earn His love through simplicity and kindness. For John was gentler, simpler and meeker than everyone else, and for this he was loved. So you too, if you are just as kind, will be worthy to fall to the breast of Jesus, which serves as a sign of theological dignity. For, according to the assurance of Scripture, the words of the Lord are hidden in the heart (Ps. 119:11). In this way the whole mystery and the betrayer of the Word will be revealed to you. For to the one who is entrusted with the grace of theology, a traitor to the Word also becomes obvious, that is, one who does not think according to the right faith. For the heretic who substitutes the word of truth, which is bread, turns out to have it not without admixture, but soaked. John 13:27. And after this piece Satan entered into him. The Lord gave a piece to Judas so that he would be ashamed of fellowship in the table and bread, and would refrain from betrayal. But Judas did not improve from this either, and henceforth he became even more on the side of Satan and, as incorrigible, completely surrendered to him. As long as Judas was considered one of the disciples and members of the holy clique, until then Satan did not have such access to him. When the Lord separated him and separated him from the other disciples, declaring him through bread, then Satan took possession of him, as if he had been abandoned from the Lord and separated from the divine face. “Satan entered into him,” that is, he penetrated into the depths of his heart and took possession of his soul. For Satan had previously attacked Judas from the outside, with the passion of love of money, and now he completely took possession of him, inspiring him with betrayal. Then Jesus said to him, “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly.” Jesus says to Judas: “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly.” By this, the Lord does not encourage Judas to betray, but, as it were, reproaches him for the fact that he is committing betrayal. With the word “do,” the Lord seems to say: “Here I leave you, do what you want; I don’t hinder your intention, I don’t hold you back any longer.” For before this, the Lord curbed the anger of Judas, observing the time of death for Himself, which is why He said: “No one takes My life from Me, but I give it Myself” (John 10:18). John 13:28. But none of those reclining understood why He told him this. And “none of those reclining understood.” It is worthy of study why no one knew this when the Lord, when asked about the traitor, said that he was the one to whom I would give the piece. Apparently, the Lord said this quietly only to John, so that no one else heard. Moreover, John, leaning to his chest, asks almost under the ear, so that the traitor was not announced. For otherwise Peter might have stretched out his sword and killed him. Did John really not recognize this? Yes, even he, for he did not expect that the student would be capable of such lawlessness. With his holy soul, being far from such malice, he did not imagine this to be easy for anyone else. John 13:29. And since Judas had a box, some thought that Jesus was telling him: buy what we need for the holiday, or to give something to the poor. So, no one understood the words “do it quickly,” but they thought that the Lord commanded Judas to buy something for the holiday or give something to the poor. For He cared a lot about the poor, and although He urged others not to have either scrip or copper, He Himself allowed them to carry a box with Him, showing that both the non-covetous and the one crucified to the world should have great care for this part of the people - the poor. John 13:30 . Having accepted the piece, he immediately left; and it was night. “It was night when he went out.” The Evangelist noted, not without purpose, that “it was night,” but in order to teach us that Judas was not hindered by time, but even at night he was busy with deceit. It seems to me that Judas left at five o'clock in the evening, when Satan also entered him. For at the fourth hour Satan attacked Judas, namely: when the wife mentioned in the Evangelist Matthew (Matthew 26:6-16) shed myrrh, and Judas went and agreed with the Jews about betrayal. At five o'clock in the evening Satan entered Judas, that is, he took possession of his heart. For it is another thing to strike someone with your hand from the outside, and another thing to thrust a sword into him and hit him with it inside. Judas “left” the Savior both sensually and mentally. “It was night,” perhaps a mental night, that is, the darkness of the love of money that covered him. John 13:31. When he went out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” Since the thoughts of the disciples had fallen, the Lord raised them up, saying, “Today the Son of Man has been glorified.” Convinces them not to complain, but rather to rejoice. For suffering and bringing honor to people through dishonor constitute His glory. And otherwise: He became glorified through the miracles that took place on the Cross, namely: when the sun darkened, the stones disintegrated, the curtain was torn, and all other signs were accomplished. John 13:32. If God was glorified in Him, then God will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him. What does it mean that “God will glorify” the Son “in Himself”? That which He will glorify through Himself, not through another, not through angels and archangels, not through another power, but through Himself, for He did everything for the glory of the Son. “He will soon glorify Him,” that is, he will not delay, but will glorify Him on the cross itself, then after three days he will resurrect Him and after forty days he will bestow upon the disciples the grace of the Spirit. Let's also look at the purpose of these words. “Now is the Son of Man glorified,” that is, I, who teaches and performs miracles; and the glory did not stop with Me, but ascended to God and the Father. And as My glory becomes the glory of the Father, do not complain. For the Father will glorify Me again, so that He also may be glorified. For I do not attribute glory to Myself, and does it not ascend to Him? Yes, we have common glory. Therefore, He will glorify Me again, and will not delay, but soon, when I endure dishonorable suffering, when, apparently, I will be taken from among the living through death, then He will honor Me more, then through the resurrection He will glorify Me. John 13:33. Children! I won't be with you for long. You will seek Me, and just as I told the Jews that where I go you cannot come, so I tell you now. Since they will soon be subject to disasters, the Lord predicts this to them so that they remember the disasters and prepare for them. This also serves for His glory. For announcing to the disciples in advance what would happen to them was no small glory for Him, when the disciples subsequently remembered that the Lord had predicted to them about this. Showing that not only now, for the first time, He would know, but also knew long ago that they would look for Him in temptations, He says that He, as one who had foreseen long ago, said the same thing to the Jews. With the words “where I am going,” the Lord shows that His death is a transition and repose to a better place, where corruptible bodies are not accepted. He said to the Jews: “You will seek Me, and where I go, you cannot come” (John 7:34), in order to instill fear in them, and he tells the disciples in order to ignite love in them. For when we see that one of our friends is moving away, we are usually inflamed with ardent love for him, especially if he is leaving for a place where it is impossible for us to come. So, he says this to them in order to ignite love in them. That’s why he added “children,” so that they wouldn’t think that He told them this out of the same disposition as He told the Jews, but out of love. The Jews sought the Lord when their city was taken, and the wrath of God came upon them from everywhere, just as Joseph testifies that this followed them for the killing of Jesus. The disciples searched when they ran or experienced other sorrow. Therefore, in another place he says: “The groom will be taken away, and then the friends of the groom will fast” (Matthew 9:15). So, the Lord predicts the future for both, but for some because of unbelief, for others because of love, so that they are not exposed to unexpected disasters. John 13:34. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, let you also love one another. Since they, having heard this, naturally could have become embarrassed, like people who will be left without help, He consoles them, saying: “Do not be sad, I give you a strong guard - love; if you have it, then, supported by each other, you will be invincible.” Then, another could ask: “Lord! Why do You present love as a new commandment, when we know that love is also commanded in the Old Testament?” He adds: “As I have loved you, so should you love one another.” “Just as,” he says, “I loved you freely, without preliminary merits, even when human nature was in enmity with God and separation, I, however, took it upon myself and sanctified it, so you love each other freely; and if your brother insults you, do not remember this.” You see, the new commandment is to love your neighbor freely, even if you don’t owe him anything. And the Law said, “Thou shalt love thy friend,” commanding with love, as it were, to pay off a debt to a neighbor who began to love first. John 13:35. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. Showing that after His departure they will not be humiliated, but will become glorious, he says: “By this everyone will know.” You see, he announces that they will become famous among everyone, and this consoles them a lot. While remaining silent about the miracles they will perform, their distinguishing feature is love. For many of those who performed miracles will hear “I did not know you” (Matthew 7:23). If the entire universe was brought to faith by miracles, what is surprising? That’s why they had the power to create miracles, because they had love. And if they had fallen behind and separated from each other, then everything would have perished, and no one would have believed when they raged against each other, while what made them worthy of faith more than a miracle was that believers have “one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32). John 13:36. Simon Peter said to Him: Lord! where are you going? Peter, having become bold from great fervor, when he heard that the Lord said, “Where I am going, you cannot go,” asks: “Where are you going?” He seems to be saying to Christ: “What is this way that I cannot walk?” He asks about this, not so much wanting to know where He is going, but secretly expressing the thought that even though You have taken the most difficult path of all, I will follow You. So he loved to always be with Christ! Jesus answered him: Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but later you will follow Me. Therefore, Christ responds to Peter’s thought: “You cannot now follow Me, but later you will follow Me.” John 13:37. Peter said to Him: Lord! Why can't I follow You now? I will lay down my soul for You. But Peter is so uncontrollable in his striving that he even contradicts Christ. He is dissatisfied with the fact that he received good hope of following Christ later, but insists on his own and self-confidently says: “Why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my soul for You." Look at the power of desire! Peter heard the Lord say that “greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13); Therefore, he himself strives for this degree and wants to achieve the highest love, which is why he promises to lay down his soul for the Lord. John 13:38. Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times. The Savior, showing him that He alone, and not some man, can confidently promise this, says: “The rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times,” that is, now; for there is little time left. The Lord spoke this late at night, and the first and second watch of the night had already passed. Since Peter contradicted out of great love, the Lord accepts love and cuts off the contradiction. Therefore, He deprives him of help from above and brings him to the knowledge of his weakness. For if you love, you must submit to Him Whom you love. I said you can't, but you contradict. From renunciation you will clearly learn that what I say cannot fail to come true. Therefore, sparing him, he allowed him to fall, so that he would not be subjected to this later, when he accepted the economy of the universe, but would know himself. And look how he fell: not once, but three times. Thus, abandonment from God exposes our powerlessness, and whoever is attentive finds in this the greatest benefit.