Christ would have His disciples understand that although He had washed their feet, this did not in the least detract from His dignity. "Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am." And being so infinitely superior, He imparted grace and significance to the service. No one was so exalted as Christ, and yet He stooped to the humblest duty. That His people might not be misled by the selfishness which dwells in the natural heart, and which strengthens by self-serving, Christ Himself set the example of humility. He would not leave this great subject in man's charge. Of so much consequence did He regard it, that He Himself, One equal with God, acted as servant to His disciples. While they were contending for the highest place, He to whom every knee shall bow, He whom the angels of glory count it honor to serve, bowed down to wash the feet of those who called Him Lord. He washed the feet of His betrayer.

Kristus ville have sine disciple til at forstå, at skønt han havde tvættet deres fødder, så forringede dette på ingen måde hans værdighed. "I kalder mig Mester og Herre, og I har ret, thi jeg er det." Og fordi han stod så uendelig højt over dem, blev tjenesten ved ham fuld af nåde og betydningsfuldhed. Ingen var så ophøjet som Kristus, og alligevel nedlod han sig til at udføre den ringeste tjeneste. For at hans folk ikke skulle lade sig vildlede af den egenkærlighed, der bor i det menneskelige hjerte, og som vokser ved at tjene sig selv, gav Kristus personligt eksemplet på ydmyghed. Han ville ikke overlade denne vigtige sag til mennesker. Han anså den for at være af så stor betydning, at han selv, som var Gud lig, handlede som en tjener over for sine disciple. Medens de stredes om at få de øverste pladser, bøjede han, for hvem hvert knæ skal bøje sig, han, som Himmelens engle regner det for en ære at tjene, sig ned for at tvætte fødderne på dem, som kaldte ham Herre. Han tvættede forræderens fødder.