So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14)
Jesus had chosen twelve men to be his disciples and had spent the prior three years with them, preparing them to spread the Gospel after his resurrection. He had told them the plan, but they didn’t really understand. For now, they were together for their last meal together, and it was a great meal, the Passover.
Jesus had directed Peter and John to prepare for the Passover dinner (Luke 22:8-13). Seated in an upper room, Jesus looks around at the twelve. He sees James and John, who had asked for places of distinction in Jesus’ kingdom (Matt. 20:20-28). He sees Peter, who will try to defend Jesus’ kingdom with a sword (Luke 22:49-50), and while he will vow that he will never deny Jesus, he denies him three times (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62). Then, there is Judas, who has already made plans to betray Jesus for a meager thirty pieces of silver (Matt 26:14-15). Following the supper, all the disciples argued about who would be the greatest in Jesus’ kingdom (Luke 22:24).
Jesus loved this group of disciples; they were his best friends, but they didn’t understand the torment that Jesus was experiencing – knowing the extent of suffering that he would endure in the next twenty hours. Jesus could have chided his disciples, he could have tried to teach them about servanthood, or that the greatest in the kingdom was the least. Rather, he took up the basin and the towel and started washing their feet. One foot at a time, Jesus carefully washed, then dried, dirty, stinky feet – even Judas’ feet. This is who Jesus is. Jesus, who is the almighty God, chose to lay aside the privilege that was his to be a servant and die a criminal’s death (Phil. 2:7-8). This is pride transformed. This is the example that we are called to follow.