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The Sunday before our Lord was to be crucified; he rode into Jerusalem and was greeted and hailed as the King, the Messiah. Just a few days later he and his disciples were reclining on couches as they ate their Passover, the Lord’s Last Supper. It is interesting to note that in Jesus’ day everyone ate while laying, or reclining on a couch. The couches would typically accommodate at least three people. They would lay across the couch with their feet hanging off the back side and would prop themselves up on their elbows at the front side. A small, long narrow table was typically set before them, and it was from this table they would all eat. This seating, or in reality laying arrangement explains why John rested his head on Jesus’ chest to ask him a question. John merely leaned back and naturally came into contact with Jesus who was reclining next to him. During the meal Jesus got up from his place and removing his outer cloak he then wrapped a towel around his waist and began to slowly work his way around the back side of the couches washing his disciple’s feet which were dangling off the back side of the couches. The responsibility of washing a visitor’s hot, dusty and often smelly sandaled feet fell to the lowest of the household slaves or servants. And yet, it was this task that the King of the Universe used to teach his disciples the meaning of leadership. As such, the beginning of the quest to nobility starts by learning to serve.
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