1Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God and was going to God, 4arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
7Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”
8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”
9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11For he knew him who would betray him; therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” 12So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. 14If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you. 16Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ 19From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he. 20Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”
21When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
22The disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke. 23One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ breast. 24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.”
25He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus’ breast, asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26Jesus therefore answered, “It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him.
Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
28Now nobody at the table knew why he said this to him. 29For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, “Buy what things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30Therefore having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night.
31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him immediately. 33Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you. 34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.”
37Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won’t crow until you have denied me three times.
In the Service of Others
In the Service of Others
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do youknow what I have done to you?13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,you also ought to wash one another’s feet.15 ForI have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Jesus is the ultimate example of a servant leader. Here on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus could have given a dialogue about God’s love for all of mankind. He could have gone through the scriptures book by book, showing how prophecy was fulfilled in His coming. He could have given a summary of all His teaching over the past three years. Instead, He knelt down in front of each of His disciples, and He washed their feet. In wealthier homes that had a slave or a servant, that slave or servant would perform the humble task of washing the feet of visitors. Here, Jesus, Creator of the World, God in flesh, knelt before others and humbly washed their feet. After doing so, He sat back down and asked, “Do you know what I have done to you?” He then explained that although He was indeed their Teacher and their Master, He did this to show them a heart attitude they were to have. It was an attitude of Service.
Service is always about the other. It is about the one being served. Such an attitude is contrary to our fleshly desires that want to be served and pleased. In speaking about love, a rabbi once said, “It’s not about the lover. It’s about the other.” It is about the one being loved. Serving is difficult because it always involves sacrifice. Sacrifice isn’t fun because it involves laying aside rights and privileges to wait on others. It consists of giving our time, talent, and treasure for the benefit of others. That is the opposite of selfishness. True service is never about selfishness. It is about selflessness.
We may no longer have the custom of washing each other’s feet, but we have many other ways to serve one another. Just this week, I took a group of Young adults from my church to a convocation called Passion 2026. To get a good seat, you had to stand in line for hours before the event to get into the stadium and reserve seats. The travel was tiring. We didn’t get much rest. But several in our group set their alarms and got up with just a couple of hours of sleep, then went out in the early hours of dawn to stand in line for the rest of us. That is washing feet. Others in the group stripped my bed as required at check-out time. Others helped me up when I clumsily fell outside the stadium. I am older now and unsteady. Each in the group served me in some way. That is laying aside one’s own personal comfort for the benefit of others. Reader, as you walk through life, be prepared to “wash the feet” of others. It is costly. It may cost you sleep or just a few minutes of doing your own thing. It may cost you comfort. It may cost you time, talent, and treasure. It will always come at the cost of putting your agenda aside for God’s agenda. This isn’t just a good idea. It is what Jesus commanded us to do. Ask God to show you today how to wash the feet of others.