[Jesus] rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:4-5 ESV

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, 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 to you. John 13:1-15 ESV

In Jesus’ day, many people wore sandals to walk the dusty streets, some even walked barefoot. You can imagine how dirty people’s feet might be at the end of the day! Usually, a household servant would wash travelers’ feet as they entered a home. Jesus and His disciples went into the upper room to have their Passover meal. Evidently, no one was there to wash their feet and none of the disciples volunteered to do the dirty job.

After the meal, Jesus got up to do the job of washing everyone’s feet. Jesus, who was their Teacher, the Messiah, the Son of God, was doing the lowliest of jobs, washing feet. How do you think the disciples felt? Peter actually said, “You shall never wash my feet.” Peter didn’t want His Lord to wash his dirty feet. But Jesus insisted that He would wash Peter’s feet, and Jesus humbly knelt down in front of each of His disciples and washed their feet, even Judas, who He knew would betray Him later that evening.

Humble means to not be proud or boastful of yourself, to not think of yourself as better than others. Do you think maybe the disciples thought they were too good to wash feet? That is until Jesus did it! But Jesus tells them and us that He did this as an example, to show all of us how to live. Jesus humbled himself because of His great love for them (and us!) and served them by washing their feet. Then Jesus says to the disciples and all His followers including us, that we are to do the same for others; be humble, love and serve.

This week, talk with your parents. What are some ways you can humbly show love and serve others? It doesn’t mean you have to go wash feet, although you could. Kneeling at someone’s feet and washing them is a humble job. But you can also love and serve like Jesus by helping a friend with homework, or doing a chore without being asked, or giving forgiveness when someone hurts your feelings, or by seeing someone in need and trying to help them.

Look for opportunities to love and serve like Jesus this week. Follow in His footsteps. Try to do at least one thing each day to love and serve someone else. And remember to be humble.

Blessings and joy as you love and serve like Jesus!