In John 13, the disciples had been arguing over who would hold the leading positions in the government Jesus was about to set up. The discussion was heated. They were caught up in the ambition for position and power. How the heart of Jesus must have hurt! He had so little time left for them to learn that the way to glory is through service and not through position and authority. How could he get the message across forcibly enough so that they would never forget the truth? It was this that led Jesus to wash His disciples’ feet and to demonstrate what true royalty is: serving others.