The Passover Festival was approaching, a significant time in the Jewish calendar. Jesus, fully aware that his time on earth was drawing to a close and that he would soon return to his Father, demonstrated the depths of his love for his disciples. This profound love wasn’t expressed through grand pronouncements or displays of power, but in a humble act of service: washing his disciples’ feet.
During the evening meal, as the devil was already influencing Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus, Jesus, knowing his divine authority and origin, rose from the table. He removed his outer garments, took a towel, and filled a basin with water. In a move that would have been deeply surprising and perhaps even unsettling to his disciples, Jesus began to wash their feet, drying them with the towel. This was a task typically reserved for the lowliest of servants, yet here was their teacher, their Lord, performing this humble act for them.
When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter was immediately taken aback. “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” he questioned, expressing his discomfort with the role reversal. Jesus responded with words that hinted at a deeper meaning, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter, still resistant to the idea of his Lord serving him in such a way, declared, “No, you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus firmly replied, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me,” emphasizing the crucial importance of this act, both literally and symbolically.
Peter, upon hearing this, dramatically shifted his stance, pleading, “Then, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus clarified, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you,” alluding to Judas’ impending betrayal and the spiritual cleanliness that true followers should strive for.
After washing their feet and returning to his place at the table, Jesus questioned his disciples, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He then explained the significance of his actions: “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Jesus, the ultimate authority and leader, established a powerful principle: true greatness lies in service. He concluded by stating, “Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
This act of foot washing transcends a simple gesture of hospitality. It is a profound lesson in servant leadership and humility. Jesus, by washing his disciples’ feet, embodied the principle of “to serve, not to be served.” He demonstrated that leadership is not about demanding respect or wielding power, but about selfless service to others. This example challenges us to reconsider our understanding of leadership and greatness, urging us to prioritize the needs of others and to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by serving those around us with humility and love.
