Day 1: Washing the Feet

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When Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem for the Passover celebration, the streets were alive with expectation. There were people shouting, “Hosanna!” which means “Save us!” They lined the roads and waved palm branches—a Jewish symbol of victory. This wasn’t just a welcome; it was a declaration. They believed their Messiah—their future king—had come to bring freedom.

For centuries, the Jewish people had been oppressed. First by Egypt, then years later it was Babylon, then Persia, Greece, and now Rome. They lived under harsh taxes, strict military control, and rulers who often mocked their faith. But they clung to the promises of Scripture—prophecies of a coming king from the royal line of King David who would establish an everlasting kingdom.

Because of his teachings, claims he’d made about himself, and the miracles he’d performed, many believed Jesus was the king they had been waiting for. And he was. But at the time, no one realized how different of a king he would be. It was only in hindsight that many of the original Jesus followers had a clear picture of who he really was. With regard to all the signs pointing to Jesus as the Messiah, the apostle John tells us:

At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

—John 12:16

This week, we’ll look at several misunderstandings different people had about Jesus, particularly in the moments leading up to Easter weekend.

We’ll start with the night before Jesus was crucified, when he did something that baffled his closest followers. The twelve disciples and Jesus had plans to celebrate a traditional Passover meal together—an annual tradition for Jewish families. Jesus wanted to celebrate Passover with his disciples who had become like brothers to him. As the meal was in progress, Jesus did something that seemed strange. The Gospel of John tells us what happened.

…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.

—John 13:4–5

A couple of things in particular would have stood out. For one, the idea of getting your feet washed in general. If you were at a home, particularly a nicer home, it wasn’t uncommon for a hired servant to wash the feet of guests as they entered. But two things were out of the ordinary: there’s no mention of a servant, and Jesus got up to wash their feet after they’d already arrived and the meal had started. So this had to raise eyebrows around the table. What is going on?

The disciples didn’t know what Jesus was thinking, but the Scriptures point to his motive. Look at what John tells us in the verse before Jesus got up to wash their feet:

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.

—John 13:3

So, Jesus knew his time with them would be ending soon. It’s possible he was thinking, What can I do to set the stage for what they are about to go through? How can I demonstrate my purpose one last time?

He washes their feet—something Jews didn’t even do for each other. They would have hired a Gentile to do it. And yet here was Jesus—their rabbi, their leader, the one they believed to be the Messiah—kneeling before them.

Peter was so disturbed that he protested. Really?

“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

—John 13:6

This was not how kings acted. This wasn’t how powerful leaders behaved. This wasn’t the Messiah they were expecting. But Jesus was redefining greatness. He said to them,

“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

—John 13:7

For Jesus, this wasn’t about clean feet—it was about a new way. In his kingdom, leadership wasn’t about power, status, or being served. It was about serving others by giving your life away. And then he gave them a command that turned everything upside down:

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

—John 13:14

He wasn’t just telling them what he had done. He was telling them what they must do. Go and do likewise. This wasn’t the kingdom they expected. But it was the kingdom he was calling them to build.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for a king who chose a towel instead of a throne. Help me to live with that same heart each day, giving my life away for others. Amen.