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3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:3-5)

Realizing “that he had come from God and was returning to God,” Jesus took it upon Himself to wash the disciples’ feet. He did it thoroughly from start to finish. He did not skip a step. He did not just pretend and bow out quickly. For Jesus wanted to teach His disciples a difficult and yet tremendously important lesson – be a servant. Before the teacher died, Jesus saw the urgency to teach His disciple this lesson of servanthood. Jesus is considered the greatest teacher of all. He knows what is important to His disciples. And it is one of His last great lessons.

Usually the last few lessons are the most important and the most difficult to learn. It took the whole course to come to this point. Being a servant requires a self-understanding. Verse 3 starts with “Jesus knew.” Jesus definitely knew His own identity as the teacher thus a servant. This is the reason why He is willing to wash His disciples’ feet. He played this role of a servant to them. The idea of “role play” can be misleading. Jesus knows his “portion” very well and being a servant is His “portion.” Servanthood is the portion assigned to a teacher! We can see that Jesus was not role playing but He was actually doing it as part of His identity. He wanted the disciples to understand that leadership is not about calling the shots. Leadership at all time would have to serve in the most basic and mundane services.

Washing feet was probably well understood by the disciples at that time. Jesus was thinking about what comes after. When Jesus was still alive, the disciples could be very humble towards Jesus. For the students cannot be higher than the teacher! After the Pentecost, the church was established, and the disciples were revered by the new believers. There the danger was waiting around the corner. When the disciples began to think about how much they have done for Jesus and how much they have done for the church, they could be reminded of Jesus’ washing of their feet. The night when He was betrayed, Jesus did not only establish the Holy Communion. He has also demonstrated how He became the servant of all by washing His disciples’ feet. And the disciples’ “victory” will come back down to servanthood.

We, as the Lord’s disciples and leaders of the church, should return to the night the Lord’s was betrayed. We would think about the Holy Communion, and at the same time think about the feet washing before communion. Leaders are at the same time servants. I will remind myself that in the role as teacher and leader, I should always come back to the night of Jesus’ betrayal; that Jesus washed His disciples’ feet…
“Oh my Lord, You are the Lord yet you became the servant. You know me full well that I do not really understand living after the Lord is to be a servant. On the day of the Holy Communion, let me remember the most high Lord is the most humble servant. May the Lord give me a willing heart, and learn from the Lord to be a servant. In Lord Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”