John 13:1-17
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus is in His third Passover with His disciples...Jesus knew His time had come and He was going to His Father tomorrow...This was His last night He would be with His disciples...He knew this...He would spend the night being with and talking to His disciples, just before His arrest...He would eat with the Twelve...This would be His Last Supper...
Having loved His disciples, who were of this world, Jesus would show the full extent of His love...It would be necessary to wash His disciples feet...This was very humbling...During the meal Jesus gets up and wraps a towel around His waist...He poured water into a basin and begins to wash their feet...Peter objects to this washing of his feet (Peter probably thought the roles of His Master and he were reversed...I think there are probably other menial tasks we can think of today we (or the people we love and respect) would not want to do)...This was not the role of their Teacher, their Master... Peter and the disciples needed to learn that Jesus came to serve others and not to be served...This humble washing would teach the Twelve about serving others and about humility...
It is so easy to think and daydream of comfort and power and others serving us...It might be a goal to be a President or CEO of a company or organization with the ability to supervise others...Jesus teaches us the we must also be willing to serve and to serve with humility...