Nang mahugasan na ni Jesus ang kanilang mga paa, muli niyang isinuot ang kanyang balabal at nagbalik sa hapag. Siya’y nangusap sa kanila, “Nauunawaan ba ninyo kung ano ang ginawa ko sa inyo? Tinatawag ninyo akong Guro at Panginoon, at tama kayo, sapagkat ako nga iyon. Dahil akong Panginoon at Guro ninyo ay naghugas ng inyong mga paa, dapat din ninyong gawin ito sa isa’t isa. Binigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa upang inyong tularan.”

Juan 13:12–15

What kind of king washes the feet of his followers? Such an act is unthinkable for any earthly royalty. But this is what the “King of kings and the Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16) did. He washed the feet of His disciples during His last supper with them (John 13).

What Jesus did was a supreme act of servanthood. He was their Rabbi. For the Jews, a rabbi holds a position of honor and authority. A rabbi’s students not only listen to him, they also serve him. Therefore, for a rabbi to wash the feet of his students is unacceptable and scandalous!

What Jesus did was a supreme act of love. At this time, alam na Niya that Judas would betray Him (John 13:26). Alam din Niya that Peter would deny him three times (John 13:38). He knew that His disciples would desert Him in the hours and days ahead. He must have felt disappointed and disheartened. And yet, Jesus still served Judas, Peter, and all His disciples in their last supper together. He tied a towel around His waist and started washing their feet!

Jesus made His intention clear: “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:15, NLT).

What kind of king washes the feet of His followers? A Servant-King. That’s what Jesus is and that’s how He lived.

Are you a follower of Jesus, the Servant-King? If you are, then you are called to do to others what He has done to His disciples during the Last Supper. You must be ready to tie a towel around your waist, bow your head low, and wash the feet of the world. To serve the people you’ve been called to serve, with humility and love.