John 13:4-5

So Jesus rose from the table. No word of explanation! Something is unusual here! This is not some new rite, but a deep spiritual lesson. (1) The disciples expected the immediate creation of the Kingdom, That is, they thought Jesus would declare himself King, and they would be high ranking government officials. Each wanted to be the most important (see Luke 22:24-30). (2) They had removed their sandals, and sat at the table with dry and dusty feet. But no one of them would volunteer to wash their feet, because in their self-pride, each thought he was better than the other. (3) While they sit, full of pride and envy, obsessed with their desire to be number one: Jesus, the Son of God, their Lord, gets up and does for them what they will not do for each other. Jesus acted out what he had already told them: "The leader must be like the servant. " [Remember that they are already ritually pure (John 11:55).]