Have you ever had to clean someone’s feet?
Not just a quick wipe after a shower or scrubbing your child’s feet after a muddy park trip—I mean actually kneel down and wash feet that are caked in dirt, sweat, and whatever the road left behind.
In John 13, we see Jesus washing His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, and that moment flips everything you thought you knew about power, love, and leadership.
Because that’s where this starts.
In John 13, we find Jesus in the upper room—just hours before His arrest.
The cross is coming. And He knows exactly what lies ahead.
His disciples are gathered around Him for what we now call the Last Supper.
And what does He do?
He gets up. Takes off His outer garment. Wraps a towel around His waist. Then one by one, He kneels—and washes their feet.
Read the full passage here: John 13 on BibleGateway
Foot washing Was a Dirty Job—Literally
Back then, people wore sandals and walked everywhere. The roads were dirt. Most were shared with animals. Feet were filthy.
It wasn’t just a custom to wash them before meals—it was a necessity. Especially when meals were eaten reclining, with everyone’s feet up close and personal.
Washing feet wasn’t a job for the host. It wasn’t even a job for the average servant. It was reserved for the lowest one in the household. So when Jesus—the King of the Universe—stooped to do it?
That shook and confused everyone in the room. Including Peter, who tried to stop Him.
“You shall never wash my feet.” – John 13:8a
Peter’s reaction makes sense. Shouldn’t it have been the other way around?
If you or I were writing a story to “sell” the divinity of Jesus, this isn’t how we’d do it. We’d have Him Glowing. Floating in. Surrounded by angels. Declaring victory.
But He kneels.
That’s why I believe this Bible account—and many others like it.
Because this story doesn’t read like something a human would invent to make their hero look good.
It reads like truth.
Raw. Unexpected. Completely upside down from the way we’d write it.
The King Who Formed the Stars… Washed Feet
That thought stops me in my tracks every time I consider it.
The same hands that shaped the universe… holding dust-caked, cracked feet. Feet belonging to men who would soon scatter.
One who would deny.
One who would Betray.
And yet Jesus doesn’t skip anyone.
Not even Judas’ feet.
John 13:7 says:
“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
This reminds me:
I don’t always understand what He’s doing in the moment. I don’t always see the plan. But He does.
He knew exactly what was coming—betrayal, abandonment, crucifixion.
And He still got down on His knees.
What Jesus Washing Feet at the Last Supper Still Teaches Us
So what’s the message here?
- It’s humility. Real, ground-level humility—not the kind we fake to sound spiritual.
- It’s forgiveness. Jesus didn’t withhold kindness even from the one who would betray Him.
- It’s sanctification. He told Peter: “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet”—a picture of how we’re already clean through salvation but still need daily cleansing as we walk through a messy world.
- It’s service. He said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).
Jesus washing His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper wasn’t just an act of kindness—it was a complete reversal of social expectations…
“The greatest among you will be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11
So What About Us?
We like to imagine we’d be like Peter—loyal, passionate, protective.
But more often than not, we’re like the others. Sitting around the table, thinking about ourselves. Forgetting that no one volunteered for the dirty job.
When we reflect on Jesus washing His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, we’re reminded of what true leadership and love look like.
Jesus didn’t just talk about love—He lived it. On His knees. With a towel. Serving the very ones who’d let Him down. That kind of love doesn’t just inspire… it changes you.
So what would it look like for you to love like that today?
Leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts or what this story stirs up in you.
And if you’re still figuring out who Jesus is, maybe start here:
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” — John 13:14
If you’re reflecting on this after Easter, check out this post about what Easter Monday really means.