Why Jesus Washed Feet
April 18, 2026·6 min read
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."
John 13:14
Foot-washing in the first century was the work of the lowest servant in the household.
Peter's protest
Peter's reaction tells us everything: 'You shall never wash my feet.' He understood the social meaning of the act.
A new definition of greatness
Jesus had already told his disciples that the greatest among them must be the servant of all. Now he was showing them what that looked like.
The call to follow
After he had finished, Jesus asked: do you understand what I have done? He was asking whether they had grasped the inversion he was modelling.
"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."
Matthew 20:26