Today’s text opens to a precious scene in the upper room as the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus draws to a close. In this account we see the hands of divine humility, where it is once again stated that the Father had given all things into the hands of the Lord Jesus (Jn. 3:35).

Simon Peter had a strongly negative reaction to the Lord’s action of washing their feet (13:6, 8). In his mind it ought to have been the slave of the guest room to do this task, as was the custom. “Why is the Lord lowering Himself to this menial slave work? He is the King, the Messiah of Israel. The house slave ought to be washing His feet.”

However, Christ was teaching them, giving them an object lesson they would never forget. Yes, the lesson included the important truths of one new birth and daily spiritual cleansing (v. 10); but there was another important lesson: humility. This was explained by their “Lord and Teacher” at the close of the chapter (vv. 12–17). As a poet has penned,

Wouldst thou be chief? Then lowly serve.

Wouldst thou go up? Go down.

But go as low as e’er you will,

The Highest has been lower still.

The entire universe has now been placed in the hands of the Son, and this will be manifested in the world to come. But in our text we see something else in His hands: the feet of the disciples! Every step of our daily path is under the care of His loving hands. Our heavenly Advocate watches over our every step. What humility we see in His great stoop to serve us!