JOHN 13.3-5: Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, (4) rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. (5) Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (ESV)
The Bible tells us in a variety of places in the New Testament that Jesus, as the only Son of God, is preeminent in all things. God created the universe through Jesus. Jesus is the author of salvation and the forerunner who, spiritually speaking, entered through the innermost veil into the Holy of Holies on our behalf. Jesus is the mediator between God and all people, and He lives to make intercession on our behalf to God the Father.
During His life on earth, Jesus was subordinate to no one, except that He submitted Himself to the will of God the Father. So in the above verses wherein Jesus demonstrates to His disciples the nature and character of the type of leadership He wants them to pursue, He illustrates from the standpoint of the greatest leader, without peer, performing one of the lowest of servant tasks.
Whether or not foot washing was the most menial of tasks, I do not know. But nonetheless it was considered a lowly task and it was performed by slaves and servants. As J. H. Bernard of the International Critical Commentary of the Gospel According to St. John points out, this act of foot washing was not before supper as would have been customary. So Jesus was giving them an object lesson. The customary time for foot washing was upon the arrival of the guests. They were past that time. This foot washing by Jesus was an illustration and lesson.
And so the lesson of leadership from this object lesson is that a leader in Christ’s church is to perform his or her task with the utmost of humility. Humility rules out and excludes self centeredness and self exaltation. A person leading in humility thinks of others more than he or she thinks of himself or herself. Beware of the self aggrandizers.