As the cross is the sign of submission, so the towel is the sign of service.
Luke tells us that “An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest” (Chapter 9, Verse 46).
Whenever there is trouble over who is the greatest, there is trouble over who is the least. That is the crux of the matter for us, isn’t it? Most of us know we will never be the greatest; just don’t let us be the least.
Gathered at the Passover feast, the disciples were keenly aware that someone needed to wash the others’ feet. The problem was that the only people who washed feet were the least. So there they sat, feet caked with dirt. It was such a sore point that they were not even going to talk about it. No one wanted to be considered the least.
Then Jesus took a towel and a basin and redefined greatness.
Click here to learn more about the Discipline of Service from Richard Foster