By Dr. Robert C Crowder
Reading:
Isaiah 53:11-12 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
John 13:1-5 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
John 13:12-15 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Reflection:
Isaiah prophesied of God’s ‘righteous servant’ who would pour out his soul unto death and bear the sin of many. On the night before His crucifixion, the Servant kneeled with a towel and basin. The One Isaiah saw suffering for sinners stooped to wash the feet of those He came to save. This is the trajectory of divine love: from the throne to the towel to the cross. The Servant who would bear our iniquities first bore the humiliation of washing dusty feet. And in both acts; the towel and the cross, Jesus demonstrated what true greatness looks like: not being served, but serving, even unto death.
John’s account begins with a statement of profound theological significance: “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” Jesus knew what was coming. He knew that within hours He would be arrested, beaten, and crucified. He knew the weight sin He would bear on the cross that awaited Him. Yet His concern was not for Himself but for His disciples. The phrase “having loved his own” speaks of ongoing, persistent love. And “he loved them unto the end” means He loved them completely, perfectly, to the uttermost degree. The Greek word telos means not just chronological end but completion, perfection, and fullness. Jesus cherished His disciples, and He demonstrated that love by serving them in the humblest way possible.
John also notes something chilling: “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.” Even as Jesus prepared to wash the disciples’ feet, Satan was at work in the heart of Judas. Jesus knew this. He knew that one man whose feet He would wash would soon betray Him. Yet He served anyway. This illustrates divine love; it is not conditioned on the worthiness or response of the recipient. Jesus did not withhold service from Judas because of what Judas would do. He served fully, knowing He would be betrayed fully. This is love that gives without guarantee of return.
Then comes the key verse that reveals Jesus’ full awareness of His identity and authority: “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God.” Jesus knew who He was. He knew His origin (from God), His authority (all things in His hands), and His destination (returning to God). He possessed infinite power and unquestioned sovereignty. And what did He do with that power? “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.” The Lord of glory laid aside His outer garments, the symbol of His dignity and status, and wrapped Himself in the towel of a servant; the lowest, most menial position in the household.
The act itself was shocking. Foot washing was necessary in that culture because people wore sandals and walked on dusty roads. Feet became filthy and washing them was a servant’s task; often assigned to the lowest servant or a slave. It was considered so degrading that Jewish law stated a Hebrew slave could not be required to wash feet; it was a job reserved for Gentile slaves. Yet here is the Son of God, the King of kings, pouring water into a basin and washing the grimy feet of fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. Peter’s protest, “Thou shalt never wash my feet,” was not false humility but genuine shock at the reversal of roles. Jesus’ response was equally firm: “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”[1] This was not optional. Jesus’ service was not a nice gesture; it was essential to relationship with Him.
After washing their feet, Jesus sat down again and explained what He had done: “Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” Jesus did not deny His authority. He affirmed it. He is Master; the Teacher, the one with authority to instruct. He is Lord; Kurios, the title used for God Himself in the Greek Old Testament, the sovereign ruler who commands obedience. Jesus did not wash their feet because He lacked authority. He washed their feet because He possessed all authority and chose to use it for humble service.
Then came the application: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” This is not merely a ceremonial ordinance to be observed literally (though some churches practice it as such). This is a living principle for all of life; greatness in the kingdom is measured by willingness to serve, not by desire to be served. The word “example” (hupodeigma) means a pattern, a model to be imitated. Jesus was showing them, and us, what love looks like in action. Love does not stand aloof, demanding honor and service. Love stoops. Love kneels. Love serves.
Paul captures this same truth in Philippians 2:5–8: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” The incarnation itself was an act of stooping. Jesus, who possessed the very nature of God, did not cling to His divine privileges. He emptied Himself; not of His deity, which is impossible, but of the independent exercise of His divine prerogatives. He took the form of a servant. And He humbled Himself to the point of death on a Roman cross.
This is the trajectory of divine love: from the throne to the towel to the cross. Jesus descended from the highest place to the lowest place so that we could be lifted from the lowest place to the highest. He who was rich became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich.[2] Every act of humble service Jesus performed; healing the sick, feeding the hungry, touching the lepers, washing the disciples’ feet, pointed toward the ultimate act of service: laying down His life as a ransom for many.
The call to us is clear and unavoidable: “Ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” We who have been served by Christ are called to serve others. We who have received grace must extend grace. We who have been loved sacrificially must love sacrificially. This is not about literal foot washing (though that can be a beautiful practice). It is about a posture of the heart; a willingness to do whatever is needed, however humble, however unnoticed, to meet the needs of others and point them to Christ.
Stooping to serve does not diminish our dignity; it reflects the character of God. The greatest among us is the servant of all.[3] The evidence that we have truly encountered the love of Christ is that we cannot help but extend that love to others through acts of humble, selfless service.
This Advent, ask yourself: Am I willing to take the towel? Am I willing to do the lowly, unnoticed tasks that serve others without fanfare or recognition? Am I willing to stoop, as Jesus stooped, for the sake of love?
Prayer:
- Ask Jesus to help you serve with gladness and humility, teaching you the way of the towel—the way of humble, selfless love.
- Pray for eyes to see where you can stoop to serve today, reflecting the One who knelt with towel and basin.
Consider:
Perform one quiet act of service this week for someone who cannot repay you; something humble, unnoticed, and done purely out of love. It might be cleaning something that isn’t yours to clean, helping with a task that isn’t your responsibility, or meeting a need that no one else sees. Do it without announcing it, without seeking credit, and without expecting thanks. Let it be an act of worship, a reflection of the One who knelt with a towel and a basin.
[1] John 13:8
[2] 2 Corinthians 8:9
[3] Matthew 23:11
Robert C. Crowder Ministries 
Leave a comment