Jesus Washes The Apostles' Feet (J50)

They gathered for the Passover meal;
Jesus began to wash apostles’ feet;
Peter watched with shame he could not conceal;
His turn came; the Son’s eyes he could not meet!
“Are you to wash my feet?” was his demand;
“You do not realize now what I do,”
Jesus replied; "later, you’ll understand.”
“Never! Lord, my feet won’t be washed by you!”
“Lest I do, you have no part with your Lord,”
Said the Son. “Then wash all the rest of me,”
Simon Peter said, in humble accord.
A servant’s master’s no greater than he!
Jesus did this to show the love of one
For another of all who love the Son!

Scripture Quoted: John 13:1-6 (NIV)
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to his Father. Having loved his own that were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew 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 wrapped around him.”

Commentary on: John 13:1-17 (NIV)
A few Christian churches, even today, make the foot-washing by members of each other a ritual; perhaps a sacrament. However, most theologians believe that Jesus did not intend this. Jews of that time customarily wore sandals without socks. All roads were dusty; even the temple floor was dusty ground. Thus, their feet were always covered with dust. When people came indoors, where the floors were also packed earth, they usually removed their sandals at the door, where there was customarily a pitcher of water, basins, and towels for the cleaning of their feet. Remember, they ate meals reclining on the floor around a very low table on which food was placed. Everyone’s bare feet were also extended outward and at an equal height with the food. When a pair of feet that was dirty mingled with the food, it was not an appetizing sight. Our custom is to dine sitting in chairs with feet out of sight and in shoes, so the washing of our feet today is not as essential or done as in that time. I believe Jesus was giving the apostles an example of how things were done in the Kingdom of God. The master is not greater than the servant, and Christians are to love one another—enough to wash each other’s feet or any duty whatever.

Simon Peter, the chief apostle, was also the one most likely to be impetuous and put his foot in his mouth. He considered it improper for Jesus to wash anyone’s feet and declined to let Jesus wash his feet, until he learned that he would “have no part” with Him if he did not. This was early Thursday evening; Jesus would be arrested that very night and condemned to death by daylight Friday. Peter was about to make the biggest mistake of his life by denying that he knew Jesus when confronted during the “kangaroo court” that the Sanhedrin called a trial.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him would not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)