On the way to Jerusalem for Jesus to make the greatest sacrifice of all time, his clueless disciples wanted to argue about who was the greatest. So at His last Passover, Jesus knew they needed an attitude makeover. Earlier He had tried to teach them that they must be servants and not seek to lord authority over people like the Gentiles (Matthew 20:25-28). And they were right back at it again! (Luke 22:24).

So Jesus got up, filled a basin with water and washed their feet. This totally shocked them because this dirty task, their feet filthy from treading the dusty roads, was something not done by even the lowliest servants. The practice was to hand a guest a basin of water and let them wash their own feet (Luke 7:44; Genesis 18:4).

With actions speaking louder than words, Jesus shouted at them by pure heart example. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14-15, New International Version).

More than just a beautiful annual ceremony, we are inspired to wash feet wherever our service is needed. Bring on the feet! No matter how dirty, deformed or yellowed!

But, wait! Do we notice what Peter actually exclaimed when Jesus got over to him?

“You shall never wash my feet!”

The idea of washing somebody’s feet would not have even occurred to Peter, but no way did he want to humble himself to let Jesus wash his.

After 46 years of doing the annual ceremony (during the Passover service, this year on April 21) and also striving to wash feet in Christ-centered servant leadership, I have found it’s much harder to bare your feet so somebody else can have the growing experience of such loving service. It sounds like such humility to kneel but it’s strangely easier than sitting in the chair and wondering what they are thinking about your ugly feet.

It's like the joy of watching somebody open your choice present then trying to come up with the words to thank them for theirs: “You shouldn’t have.” We probably mean it.

Consider what it feels like when someone you really love keeps doing nice things for you, but won’t let you do anything for them? "I’ll give you the shirt off my back, but you keep yours on," we imagine them thinking.

One of the funniest scenes I ever witnessed happened at a restaurant with several men who were very generous and known for picking up the check. What a hoot to see them jockeying to be the one to get hands on the check. They weren’t used to being treated that way!

It should go without saying that we must be balanced and truly loving. God does not want mooches and freeloaders. But there is a right time and place to let others learn the joy of washing feet. It’s simply a not-so-obvious fact that they can’t use the basin without somebody contributing the dirty feet!

On two occasions, Jesus humbly let a woman anoint his head or feet with costly spices. He let a boy save the day by donating five loaves and two fishes.

So look hard for dirty feet. And if somebody says “I’d like to serve,” and the shoe fits for you to help, take it off.

It takes a basin and feet.