Continuing our theme of “unexpected,” today is the day we remember the Last Supper, which opens like this:

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that 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 that was wrapped around him. (John 13.1 – 5, NIV)

Here’s Jesus:

• Knowing the Father has put all things under his power
• Knowing that he had come from God
• Knowing he was returning to God

He knew who he was, where he had come from, and where he was going. Therefore:

He washed the disciples’ feet!

Wow. That’s unexpected. Peter certainly didn’t expect it:

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” (John 13.6 – 8, NIV)

But there’s another unexpected lesson:

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 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. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13.12 – 17, NIV)

A strong lesson in servanthood.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10.45, NIV)

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4.5, NKJV)