John 13:2 - 15

It was the season of rain at the time of the Last Supper and since the streets in Jerusalem were not hard, it would become miry and unclean. In addition to this, the people in the Middle East were accustomed to wearing only sandals, which easily made their feet dirty.   Jesus therefore insisted that the feet of the disciples be washed before entering the Upper Room.

The washing of the feet was the least desirable task of a slave in the Jewish order of life. In affluent homes, the lowest slave in the pecking order was expected to do this humiliating job of washing the feet of the guests entering home.  

All the disciples who were with Jesus knew well about the custom of feet washing, but not one of them got down to the job of doing it. While they might have been contemplating on who should get down to the task, Jesus voluntarily humbled Himself to visually demonstrate the act of servitude.

Jesus did not set up this precedent for every church to make it a tradition every year, to do it during the season of Lent. He eagerly wished that His followers would offer themselves to serve others and not expect to be served by others.

Christian ministry warrants an individual to descend to the lowest position of service, if he wishes to sit down with Jesus Christ at the right hand of God in heaven.

Thought for the day: We cannot ascend to greatness without descending to serve others.