One of the most incredible things Jesus did in service to His disciples was to wash their feet. And while this sounds somewhat gross in our modern world, it was even worse in Biblical times. Since people wore sandals and walked pretty much everywhere they went, their feet were usually dirty and covered with mud and animal dung. That said, cleaning them was an unpleasant thing to do, which is probably why it was a job primarily reserved for servants. Because they were at the bottom of the heap and considered property, slaves were assigned unpleasant tasks like these. Shockingly, our Savior followed in the footsteps of the lowliest and removed His tunic (which was a very expensive outer garment), wrapped a towel around His waist, and assumed the posture of a servant. Kneeling down, He washed His disciples’ feet, emptying Himself of the dignity inherent in His position, and humbly serving His friends. Despite being the Lord of All, He stooped to bless and care for the very ones He had created. While He had no obligation to do this, He became the least of these to set an example for us to follow as we seek to lead others by surrendering ourselves.

My friend, as a disciple of Jesus, nothing is beneath you. Your Lord picked you up out of the pit and set your feet on the solid Rock of salvation. When you were helpless and lost beyond hope, He stooped down to find you and brought you home to His heart. Though He had no obligation to become your Father, perfect love motivated Him to adopt you as His own. And since you are His child now, He washes your feet again and again to let you know that you are seen and intimately known — all He asks in return is that you do the same for others. Understanding how much has been given for you, your Savior sets you free to serve with abandon, and He promises to fill your cup each and every time you pour yourself out to people. You are made to give love, so go forth and let His light shine through you as you willingly dive into the depths to show others that they’re not alone.