Note 3 at Jn. 13:5: It is the spiritual significance behind Jesus washing His disciples' feet that is of real importance (see note 9 at Jn. 13:15, p. 418). Jesus is graphically illustrating a lesson that He taught verbally many times (see note 1 at Mt. 18:2, p. 214; see note 1 at Lk. 9:46, p. 215). "Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life for a ransom for many" (Mk. 10:43-45).

Note 4 at Jn. 13:5: Immediately following this washing of the disciples' feet, Jesus revealed Judas as the betrayer (Jn. 13:21-26) and Judas left them (Jn. 13:30). Therefore, it is certain that Judas was present when Jesus washed the disciples' feet.

It is evident from the prophecies that Jesus had already given (see note 1 at Mt. 17:22, p. 213) and John's narrative (v. 11) that He knew all about the betrayal. Furthermore, His very next statements (Jn. 13:21-30) leave no doubt that He already knew which disciple it was who would betray Him; and yet, we don't see Jesus revealing Judas as the betrayer until after He had humbled Himself and washed Judas' feet.

This underscores the fact that Judas' betrayal was not caused by any neglect or bad treatment from Jesus. Jesus treated him the same as all of the other disciples even though He knew what was in his heart. This also shows that God's foreknowledge doesn't restrain His goodness towards anyone. He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust (Mt. 5:45) so that no one will have any excuse (Rom. 1:20) when they stand before God at the final judgment (see note 4 at Mk. 3:29, p. 128).