The Last Supper and the Power of Serving
What Jesus’ Foot Washing Teaches Us About True Greatness
The Road to Resurrection Series – Renovate Church – Centennial, CO
By Greg Russell
As we continue our Easter series at Renovate Church, we are walking through the events of Holy Week in chronological order. Each moment in that final week of Jesus’ life reveals something powerful about who He is—and what it means to follow Him.
Last week we looked at Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem to cheering crowds who welcomed Him as king.
This week we move forward to Thursday night—the Last Supper.
It is here, during one of His final moments with His disciples, that Jesus gives one of the most surprising and powerful lessons in the entire Gospel: the lesson of serving.
The Timeline of Holy Week
Before diving into the story, it helps to understand where we are in the timeline of Jesus’ final week.
After the triumphal entry on Sunday:
- Monday: Jesus clears the temple and overturns the tables of the money changers.
- Tuesday: Jesus debates and teaches in the temple, confronting the religious leaders (Matthew 21–25).
- Wednesday: Scripture is silent—many believe Jesus rested.
- Thursday: The Last Supper takes place.
By Thursday night, events begin to accelerate rapidly toward the crucifixion.
And during this final meal with His disciples, Jesus does something completely unexpected.
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
In John 13, Jesus does something shocking.
He gets up from the table, wraps a towel around His waist, pours water into a basin, and begins washing the disciples’ feet.
In the culture of the time, this was not just a humble act—it was the lowest job imaginable. Foot washing was normally done by the lowest servant in the household.
The disciples were stunned.
When Jesus reached Peter, Peter protested:
“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Peter was trying to honor Jesus. In his mind, this was beneath someone he believed to be the Messiah.
But Jesus responded:
“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
Then Peter—being Peter—overreacted in the other direction.
“Then wash my hands and head as well!”
Jesus used this moment to teach a deeper truth. But the main point of the event wasn’t symbolic—it was practical.
Jesus was demonstrating what leadership in the kingdom of God looks like.
The Lesson: True Greatness Is Serving
After washing their feet, Jesus asked the disciples:
“Do you understand what I have done for you?”
Then He explained:
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”
The message is simple but profound.
If the King of the universe serves others, then His followers should too.
Jesus didn’t come to be served.
He came to serve.
Why Serving Is So Difficult for Us
This lesson is challenging because it runs directly against human nature.
Our natural instinct is to want recognition, influence, and status. The disciples themselves struggled with this constantly.
In fact, the Gospel of Luke tells us that during the Last Supper, the disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest.
Imagine the scene:
It’s the night before Jesus would be arrested and crucified…
…and His disciples are debating their own greatness.
So Jesus responds not with a lecture, but with a demonstration.
He kneels down and washes their feet.
What Love Really Looks Like
At the heart of serving is love.
But love is often misunderstood.
Serving does not mean becoming a doormat. It doesn’t mean neglecting your own health or boundaries. Even Jesus regularly stepped away to rest and pray.
Serving simply means putting the good of others before your own self-interest.
That kind of love changes how we see people.
Instead of asking:
- “How can I be recognized?”
- “How can I be served?”
We begin asking:
- “How can I help?”
- “How can I bless someone today?”
The Secret That Made Jesus Able to Serve
One of the most powerful details in this story appears in John 13:3:
“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.”
Think about that.
Jesus knew:
- Who He was
- Where He came from
- Where He was going
Because of that confidence, He had nothing to prove.
And that freed Him to serve.
Living From Abundance Instead of Scarcity
Most people resist serving because they live with a scarcity mindset.
We worry that if we serve others, we might lose something:
- respect
- recognition
- influence
- time
- resources
But Jesus lived from a completely different perspective.
He lived from abundance.
He knew that His identity was secure in the Father. He knew His future was secure. He knew that death itself would not be the end of His story.
He was walking the road to resurrection.
And that confidence allowed Him to give freely.
The Cross Frees Us to Serve
Jesus’ life ultimately led to the cross.
But the cross was not defeat—it was the pathway to resurrection.
And Jesus calls His followers to walk a similar path.
He said:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
Thankfully, we are not called to carry His cross.
But we are called to carry our own.
That means choosing daily to live for God’s will instead of our own comfort, security, or status.
When We Let Go, We Become Free
One of the most powerful lessons from Jesus’ life is this:
He was willing to let go of everything.
He left heaven.
He lived as a servant.
He endured suffering and death.
And yet none of it was loss—because He knew resurrection was coming.
As followers of Christ, we share that same hope.
When we truly believe that life with God is eternal, we are no longer trapped by fear.
We become free.
Free to love.
Free to give.
Free to serve.
Is God Enough?
At the heart of the Christian life is a simple but profound question:
Is God enough?
Throughout history, humanity has tried to replace God as king:
- Adam and Eve tried to become like God.
- The Tower of Babel attempted to reach heaven without Him.
- Israel demanded a king instead of trusting God’s leadership.
Again and again, the story is the same.
Humans want to be their own rulers.
But Jesus shows us a different way.
The way of surrender.
The way of service.
The way of love.
Choosing Who Will Be King
Every person must eventually answer this question:
Who will be king of your life?
Will it be:
- comfort
- success
- approval
- control
- your own desires
Or will it be Jesus?
Following Jesus means choosing daily to let Him be king.
And when we do that, something surprising happens.
Serving others stops feeling like a burden.
It becomes a joy.
Walking the Road to Resurrection
The road to resurrection is not just Jesus’ story.
It’s ours.
It begins with surrender.
It continues with love and service.
And it leads to life with God forever.
When we trust Him, we can finally live the way Jesus lived—freely, generously, and courageously.
Because we know where the road leads.