John 13:2 “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.”
Our Lord had just presided over the last valid Passover Feast under the Old Testament Law Service (Luke 22:14-18) and administered the first Communion Service (Luke 22:19-20). The Lord knew that “Judas Iscariot” would “betray him”. In Luke’s account He declared, “But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.” (Luke 22:21). Previously, the Lord had told His disciples that “when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in” (Luke 22:10). It would have been highly unusual to see a man “bearing a pitcher of water”; furthermore, they must have pondered what the “water” was for, because they drank wine at the Passover Supper. They are about to find out, they are about to experience a demonstration of what brotherly love really means, a demonstration that they would never forget. No doubt they sat with wonder and utter amazement as their Lord and Master “riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” (John 13:4-5)! Now they knew what the “water” was for, but why? This was NOT the traditional feet washing that was offered when visitors arrived, for that happened as soon as they arrived, certainly not after they had already eaten a meal. Furthermore, the traditional feet washing was either done by a very low servant or by the visitors themselves. You can almost see the strained and confused faces of those men as the Lord washed the feet of one and then another and then another. Here is the Lord that stills the storms, heals the sick, raises the dead, and speaks like no man ever spoke before; why He is acting like the lowest of all servants, washing our feet! Furthermore, He keeps telling us that He is leaving! They would soon learn that He was teaching them how to behave after He was gone; so, we should also behave with such humble love toward our Brethren and Sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord!