When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. So if I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.” John 13:12-15 HCSB
The materials “Lead Like Jesus” helped me examine how Jesus led and taught His disciples. At the last class one of the exercises was to “wash the feet of the others in the group.” This was done in a symbolic way with each one kneeling and taking a cloth to wipe the dust from the shoes of the others in the group. This was a humbling experience for me and reminded me of how I needed to humble myself and serve others.
In Jesus’ time the roads were dusty and most people wore open sandals, so it was common for the host to provide a slave to wash the feet of guests when they arrived. Evidently when the disciples gathered for the Passover meal, this task had been overlooked. The washing of feet was reserved for the lowest slave, usually a non-Hebrew slave. Consequently Jesus put Himself in the lowest of all positions when He washed the feet of His disciples. He was the most unlikely person to do such a task, but He wanted to teach that they must become servants to each other and to those they encountered if they were be servants of Jesus Christ.
Challenge: Christ set the example for us. We must model the unselfish ministry of Jesus Christ. We must be willing to lay down our lives for others and take up the towel of humble service to others. Are you following Christ’s example of humble service? Are you willing to give yourself to selfless acts of service for Jesus and others? Pray for opportunities to serve others.