Jesus’ words to his apostles before he departed
The last words of someone we love are kept in the heart for ever. Jesus’ disciples never forgot what their Master told them the night before he died and in the days before his ascension. The Gospel of John devotes five whole chapters, 13 to 17, to that final conversation in the upper room, known as the “farewell discourse”. There Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, gave them a new commandment, comforted them in the face of his departure, promised them the Holy Spirit, taught them to abide in him and prayed for them and for all who would believe afterwards. Later, risen from the dead, he entrusted them with the mission of taking the Gospel to all nations. In this article we walk through those words, which still speak to every believer today.
The setting: the Last Supper
It was the night of the Passover, the feast that recalled Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Jesus knew his hour had come: within hours he would be betrayed, arrested, tried and crucified. John introduces the scene with a sentence that sums up everything that follows: “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end” (John 13:1). The words that follow are not a cold lesson, but the farewell of a friend who loves to the uttermost.
The foot washing: greatness in service
During supper, Jesus rose, laid aside his garments, took a towel, poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet. It was the task of the lowliest servant in the house. Peter resisted: “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” Jesus answered: “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Then he explained the meaning of his action:
“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
John 13:14-15
The disciples had argued many times about which of them would be the greatest. Jesus showed them that in his kingdom greatness is measured by service. The Lord of the universe knelt before fishermen, before the one who would deny him and before the one who would betray him. His example calls us to serve without seeking recognition, even those who do not deserve it.
The new commandment
When Judas left the room to hand him over, Jesus gave the eleven what he called “a new commandment”:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
John 13:34-35
Love for one’s neighbour was already in the law of Moses, but what is new is the measure: “as I have loved you”. Jesus loved to the point of giving his life. And what would distinguish his followers would not be rituals, buildings or knowledge, but love for one another. You can go deeper in our article Love for your neighbour according to the Bible.
“Let not your heart be troubled”
The disciples were distressed. Jesus had told them that he was leaving, that one of them would betray him and that Peter would deny him three times. Then he spoke some of the most comforting words in the Bible:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
John 14:1-3
Jesus did not promise them there would be no difficulties, but that his departure had a purpose: to prepare a place for them and to come back for them. When Thomas asked how they could know the way, Jesus answered: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). And when Philip asked him to show them the Father, Jesus said: “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”
The promise of the Comforter
Jesus promised not to leave them orphans. He would ask the Father, and he would give them “another Comforter”, the Spirit of truth, who would abide with them for ever (John 14:16-18). The Holy Spirit would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance everything Jesus had said (John 14:26); he would testify of Christ (John 15:26); he would convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8); and he would guide them into all truth (John 16:13). Jesus even said something surprising: “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you” (John 16:7). His physical departure would make way for his presence through the Spirit in every believer.
The peace of Christ
On that night of anguish, Jesus left his disciples a gift: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). And at the end of the discourse he added: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Read more about this peace on our Peace and love page.
The vine and the branches
On the way to the garden of Gethsemane, perhaps as they passed vineyards, Jesus used an unforgettable image:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
John 15:5
The Christian life does not consist in striving alone, but in remaining united to Christ, as the branch to the vine. Abiding in him means trusting, obeying, praying and letting his Word dwell in us. The fruit that results —love, joy, peace— glorifies the Father. Jesus added: “Henceforth I call you not servants… but I have called you friends” (John 15:15), and warned them that the world would hate them as it hated him, but that their sorrow would be turned into joy, like that of a woman giving birth.
The high priestly prayer
The discourse ends with the longest prayer of Jesus recorded in the gospels, in John 17. Jesus lifted his eyes to heaven and prayed in three circles. First for himself: “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son.” Then for his disciples: that the Father would keep them from evil and sanctify them through the truth, for “thy word is truth.” And finally for all who would believe through them, that is, for us:
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
John 17:20-21
It is moving to think that, the night before he died, Jesus prayed for every believer who would come through the centuries, and that his great request was unity, so that the world may believe. Read also our page on Ecumenism.
Words of the risen Lord
After his resurrection, Jesus spoke with his disciples again over forty days. Three times he asked Peter, who had denied him three times, “lovest thou me?”, and three times he charged him: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). In this way he restored him with love. And on a mountain in Galilee he gave them the mission that defines the Church:
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Before ascending to heaven from the Mount of Olives, he promised them: “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). While he blessed them, he was carried up into heaven.
What these words teach us today
Service is the way to greatness. The Master washed feet; his disciples must do the same. Love is the mark of the Christian. There is no better testimony than true love among brothers and sisters. We can live without fear. Jesus is preparing a place for us and will return. We are not alone. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, teacher and guide. Without Christ we can do nothing. Fruit grows from abiding in him. Jesus prayed for us. We are part of that prayer. We have a mission. To make disciples of all nations, with the promise of his presence to the end of the world.
Interesting facts
The farewell discourse fills five of the twenty-one chapters of John’s Gospel, almost a quarter of the book. The upper room, according to tradition, was on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, where the Cenacle is visited today. Since the sixteenth century John 17 has been called “the high priestly prayer”, because Jesus intercedes as high priest for his people. And the saying “I am the way, the truth, and the life” is one of the seven “I am” sayings in John’s Gospel.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the words you left your disciples and us. Teach me to serve as you served and to love as you loved. When my heart is troubled, remind me that you are preparing a place for me and that you will return. Fill me with your Spirit, help me abide in you as the branch in the vine, and send me to be your witness where I live. Thank you that on that night you prayed for me too. Amen.