A.T. Robertson Commentary John 13:1

"Now before the feast of the passover, Jesus knowing that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto his Father, having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them unto the end." — John 13:1 (ASV)

Now before the feast of the passover (προ δε της εορτης του πασχα). Just before, John means, not twenty-four hours before, that is our Thursday evening (beginning of 15th of Nisan, sunset to sunset Jewish day), since Jesus was crucified on Friday 15th of Nisan. Hence Jesus ate the regular passover meal at the usual time. The whole feast, including the feast of unleavened bread, lasted eight days. For a discussion of the objections to this interpretation of John in connexion with the Synoptic Gospels one may consult my Harmony of the Gospels, pp. 279-84, and David Smith's In the Days of His Flesh, Appendix VIII. The passover feast began on the 15th Nisan at sunset, the passover lamb being slain the afternoon of 14th Nisan. There seems no real doubt that this meal in Joh 13:1-30 is the real passover meal described by the Synoptics also (Matthew 26:21–25; Luke 22:21–23), followed by the institution of the Lord's Supper. Thus understood verse 1 here serves as an introduction to the great esoteric teaching of Christ to the apostles (John 13:2–17:26), called by Barnas Sears The Heart of Christ. This phrase goes with the principal verb ηγαπησεν (loved).

Knowing (ειδως). Second perfect active participle, emphasizing the full consciousness of Christ. He was not stumbling into the dark as he faced "his hour" (αυτου η ωρα). See 18:4; 19:28 for other examples of the insight and foresight (Bernard) of Jesus concerning his death. See on 12:23 for use before by Jesus.

That he should depart (ινα μεταβη). Sub-final use of ινα with second aorist active subjunctive of μεταβαινω, old word, to go from one place to another, here (5:24; 1 John 3:14) to go from this world (8:23) back to the Father from whom he had come (14:12,28; 16:10,28; 17:5).

His own which were in the world (τους ιδιους τους εν τω κοσμω). His own disciples (17:6,9,11), those left in the world when he goes to the Father, not the Jews as in 1:11. See Ac 4:23; 1 Timothy 5:8 for the idiom. John pictures here the outgoing of Christ's very heart's love (chs. John 13-17) towards these men whom he had chosen and whom he loved "unto the end" (εις τελος) as in Mt 10:22; Luke 18:15, but here as in 1 Thessalonians 2:16 rather "to the uttermost." The culmination of the crisis ("his hour") naturally drew out the fulness of Christ's love for them as is shown in these great chapters (John 13-17).