John 13:13 kjv
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
John 13:13 nkjv
You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
John 13:13 niv
"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.
John 13:13 esv
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
John 13:13 nlt
You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am.
John 13 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 1:38 | "Rabbi (which means Teacher)..." | Disciples first recognize Jesus as a Teacher/Rabbi. |
| John 3:2 | Nicodemus: "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God..." | Acknowledgment of Jesus' teaching authority from God. |
| Matt 23:8 | "But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers." | Jesus is the singular, supreme Teacher for believers. |
| Luke 6:46 | "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" | Connects calling Him "Lord" with obedience to His commands. |
| Matt 7:21 | "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven..." | Emphasizes true allegiance and obedience over mere words. |
| Rom 10:9 | "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead..." | Confession of Jesus as Lord is central to salvation. |
| Phil 2:11 | "Every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." | Universal future recognition of Jesus' supreme Lordship. |
| Col 2:6 | "As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him..." | Practical implication of receiving Jesus as Lord. |
| Acts 2:36 | "God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." | Peter's Pentecost sermon declaring Jesus' full status. |
| Ps 110:1 | "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand...'" | Messianic prophecy referring to Christ as Lord. |
| Isa 9:6 | "For to us a child is born... and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." | Attributes of divinity and sovereign authority. |
| John 20:28 | Thomas: "My Lord and my God!" | Thomas's direct confession of Jesus' divine Lordship. |
| John 8:58 | Jesus: "Before Abraham was, I am." | Echoes Old Testament divine self-identification ("I Am"). |
| Exod 3:14 | God: "I AM WHO I AM." | Divine "I AM" statement foundational to God's nature. |
| John 13:14 | "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." | Jesus uses the same titles for Himself to justify His command. |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Link between love for Jesus as Lord and obedience. |
| John 1:1 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." | Establishes Jesus' eternal divine nature and identity. |
| Phil 2:6-7 | "...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself..." | Highlights Christ's divine nature and humble condescension. |
| Heb 5:9 | "He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him." | Implies Christ's authority to command and demand obedience. |
| Matt 28:18 | "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." | Jesus' ultimate universal authority. |
| Col 1:16-17 | "For by him all things were created... all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things..." | Jesus' pre-eminence and creative Lordship. |
| Rev 19:16 | "On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords." | Ultimate display of Christ's sovereign authority. |
John 13 verses
John 13 13 Meaning
In John 13:13, Jesus directly affirms the disciples' address, "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am." This verse is a powerful declaration by Jesus, confirming His intrinsic dual identity as both the ultimate source of truth and instruction (Teacher) and the supreme sovereign authority (Lord). It validates the disciples' confession not as a mere human title, but as an accurate recognition of His divine nature and ultimate standing, which serves as the theological foundation for the example of humble service He had just demonstrated through foot-washing.
John 13 13 Context
John 13:13 immediately follows Jesus' radical act of washing His disciples' feet during the Last Supper. This intimate and humbling service, traditionally performed by the lowest servant, astonished the disciples and set a profound example of kingdom leadership. In the verses leading up to this, Jesus emphasizes the significance of the act, particularly to Peter (John 13:6-10), explaining that without His cleansing, they have no part with Him. This powerful object lesson on servanthood and spiritual cleansing provides the backdrop for Jesus' subsequent teaching. Verse 13 then establishes the authoritative basis for this exemplary service: it is precisely because He is their Lord and Teacher that He performed this act and could then command them to follow His example (John 13:14). Historically, "Teacher" (Rabbi) and "Lord" (Kyrios) were terms of great respect and authority in Jewish society, often applied to revered religious figures or even emperors. However, in Jesus' affirmation, these titles take on an ultimate, divine significance, asserting His unique standing above all human teachers or earthly rulers.
John 13 13 Word analysis
- You: Refers to the disciples present at the Last Supper, but implicitly extends to all who follow Christ. It highlights their personal recognition and confession.
- call me: Denotes an active declaration, an acknowledgment of His identity and authority. It is not merely a description but an address.
- Teacher (διδάσκαλος - didaskalos): This Greek term signifies one who instructs, imparts knowledge, or teaches. It reflects Jesus' role as the ultimate revealer of God's truth, moral guide, and spiritual instructor, in a sense far transcending a typical human rabbi.
- and: Connects "Teacher" and "Lord," implying these are complementary aspects of His singular, profound identity, not separate roles.
- Lord (κύριος - kyrios): This is a rich and profound term. It signifies master, owner, one who has authority, and sovereign. In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), Kyrios is frequently used to translate the divine name YHWH. Here, applied to Jesus, it unequivocally claims His divine authority, sovereignty, and ownership over His disciples. It implies a demand for allegiance and obedience.
- and you are right: (καὶ ὀρθῶς λέγετε - kai orthōs legete) Jesus' direct validation of their acknowledgment. The Greek orthōs means "rightly," "correctly," or "truly." It’s an emphatic confirmation of their accurate perception of His true nature, going beyond a mere title.
- for so I am: (ἐγώ γάρ εἰμι - egō gar eimi) This is a deep theological declaration. The phrase egō eimi ("I am") directly echoes the divine self-designation of God in the Old Testament (Exod 3:14) and appears repeatedly in John's Gospel to assert Jesus' pre-existence and divine nature. It indicates that these titles—Teacher and Lord—are not just bestowed upon Him, but are inherent to His very being and essence. He doesn't merely act as a Teacher and Lord; He is the Teacher and Lord.
Words-group analysis
- "You call me Teacher and Lord": This phrase captures the disciples' confession of Christ, revealing their understanding (at least in part) of His unique standing. It's a statement of personal acknowledgment.
- "and you are right": This is Jesus' affirmative response, validating their understanding. It indicates that their confession is true and aligns with divine reality. It underscores the truthfulness of His titles.
- "for so I am": This is the theological bedrock for the preceding statement. Jesus isn't merely accepting a title; He's asserting His intrinsic nature. It points to His eternal divine being as the ultimate reason why the titles "Teacher" and "Lord" are rightfully and absolutely applied to Him.
John 13 13 Bonus section
The specific pairing of "Teacher" and "Lord" is significant. While "Teacher" (didaskalos or rabbi) might imply one who guides with wisdom, "Lord" (kyrios) implies one who possesses and rules with ultimate authority. Jesus doesn't just affirm one title but both, indicating that His teaching comes with the full weight of divine command, and His lordship is exercised through transformative instruction. This combination effectively combats any notion that Jesus was merely a good human teacher or just a lord among many. He is the Teacher of ultimate truth, and the Lord of all, the Son of God, to whom all obedience and worship are due. This declaration provides the immovable foundation for the commands given in the following verses (e.g., wash one another's feet, love one another).
John 13 13 Commentary
John 13:13 serves as a pivotal theological affirmation, grounding Jesus' preceding act of humble service. By confirming His dual identity as "Teacher" and "Lord," Jesus clarifies the authoritative context of His actions and commands. As "Teacher," He is the source of all divine instruction, conveying absolute truth. As "Lord," He possesses ultimate, divine sovereignty and the inherent right to command and demand obedience. The disciples' correct recognition of these titles is not a casual remark but a validated confession of His essential being. His phrase, "for so I am," elevates these titles from mere human appellations to expressions of His very nature, echoing His "I Am" claims throughout John's Gospel that reveal His divinity. Thus, the humble act of foot-washing is performed not by an ordinary human, but by the divine Sovereign and ultimate Instructor, underscoring that true authority in His kingdom is intrinsically linked with self-giving service, a service He has every right to command of His followers because of who He fundamentally is. This paradox — supreme authority manifested in profound humility — is central to His identity and to Christian discipleship.
- Practical Usage Example: If Jesus, who is the absolute Teacher and Lord of all, stooped to serve, then no task or person is beneath a follower of Christ. Our titles or positions do not exempt us from serving others; rather, they should propel us to greater humility, as we serve not out of weakness, but from the strength and example of our divine Lord.