King James Bible
"After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded."
Jesus prepares for foot washing by filling a basin with water, a task typically reserved for the lowest servant in a household. This deliberate action signals the beginning of a profound act of humility during the Last Supper. The Master performs the menial duty of cleaning his followers' dusty feet, reversing all social expectations of honor and rank. In first-century Palestine, where people wore sandals on dirty roads, this intimate service was both practically necessary and culturally shocking. Jesus completes the service by drying their feet with the towel wrapped around his waist, the typical attire of a servant. This detail emphasizes his full commitment to the servant role, not merely performing a symbolic gesture but providing complete, practical care.