John 13:3-5

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 24^th/25^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The Jewish rabbis placed foot-washing among the menial tasks which Jewish slaves should not be expected to do, based on a special reading of Leviticus 25:39-46.

Only Gentile slaves were permitted to do that, as were wives and children! What Jesus elected to do was paramount to being a Gentile slave. When Jesus removed his outer garment and tied the towel around himself, he was exhibiting an act of humiliation, and was assuming the form of a slave (recall Paul's own words in Philippians 2:5-11 about Christ taking on the "form of a servant"). The Synoptic Gospels bear witness to foot-washing as appropriate for guests and travelers, whose feet were covered with dust from their journey (see Luke 7:44; Mark 1:7). Jesus taught that to be "master" one must be servant of all (see Mark 10:43-44). The Old Testament stressed foot-washing as ordinary hospitality (see Genesis 18:4; 19:2; 24:32). Among the priests, the washing of feet was required before performing sacred service in the Temple (see Exodus 30:19-21; 40:31). Washing the "saints feet" is commended by Paul, in 1 Timothy 5:9-10, among the churches.

John goes to great pains to describe how Jesus actually performed the action: how he attired himself, that he poured out the water, washed the disciples' feet, dried them with the towel wrapped around him. No one could doubt the precise role Jesus intended to imitate by this conduct. There was also something strangely "holy" about his movements, as if he were in fact a priest, as well as a servant, performing with care and love a sacred task within the Temple. It was as if the very deed was priestly service, a water ritual, poured out in divine worship before God (see Exodus 30:20). Had he been a priest, he might well have washed his own feet, and certainly would have throughout his regular duties poured out water for ceremonial purifications. For this and other reasons, many scholars see the actions of Jesus as prefiguring in a larger sense, what he was about to do on the cross. In a way, the laying aside of his clothing paralleled his laying aside of the heavenly glory and the surrounding himself with human flesh instead. Throughout his earthly life, he had adopted the servant's role, sharing in human need and suffering, offering forgiveness of sins, healing for the body, and food for the soul. All of this he performed at great cost to himself.  [BN,3 & 4]

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