Jesus Prepares the Disciples for Melchizedek Service

The Scriptures tell us that when the disciples were with Jesus, He was the one doing most of the teaching and performing most of the miracles. The disciples were present, learning, observing, and participating, but they were not yet operating at the level of doing greater things like Jesus did. Not until after Jesus’ resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost did they begin doing the “greater works” He spoke of.

So what caused this big turnaround? How did these same disciples suddenly begin operating in healings, signs, and miracles with unprecedented power, as recorded in the book of Acts? It seems as though they grew up spiritually overnight—or, more accurately, they were empowered after Jesus’ resurrection.

The clue lies in what Jesus did to them before the cross. The answer is revealed when He washed their feet.

We have all heard and talked about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Some churches still practice this ceremony today. But the question remains: Why did Jesus wash their feet? What did it mean? The context behind this ceremony is explained by the conversation Jesus had with His disciples that very night.

“So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 

"Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:12-17).

Look at what Jesus says: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them!” Know what things? How to wash other’s feet? No—He is showing them what it means to be a true servant of the kingdom.

He is serving them and commanding them to serve others the same way. Such is the kingdom of heaven. God the Father and His Son Jesus keep all creation alive and moving. They are the greatest servants of all creation. If they did not provide air, food, water, and even life, nothing would survive. God is the ultimate servant, and that makes His office the greatest office in existence.

So when Jesus kneels to wash their feet, He is not lowering Himself—He is revealing the greatness of the office He holds. And then He commands them to walk in that same pattern. He is teaching them, in word and in action, the nature of the office they are entering: the office and order of Melchizedek—the servant-king who rules by serving and serves by ruling.

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, John said he was not worthy to remove Jesus’ sandal. However, Jesus is worthy to remove His disciples’ sandals and prepare them for the same servant office. What are the odds that John begins Jesus’ ministry with a statement about removing His sandal, and then Jesus ends His earthly ministry by performing that very act for His disciples so they will enter into that same office of Melchizedek under Him?

How do we know that they—and we—now operate in that office? Jesus verified it by this statement: “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do… If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

Do you see that? Whatever we do, we are commanded to do it in His name! Why? Because His Name is the highest office and authority given. When we use His Name, we are taking the authority of that office to declare and work in the power it has. The disciples were commissioned to heal, deliver, preach, and establish the Kingdom in His Name because they were stepping into the same servant-king office Jesus demonstrated when He washed their feet. And that commission extends to us.

John confirms this in the book of Revelation: “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father…” (Revelation 1:5-6).

Do you see what John confidently declared? Jesus has made us kings and priests to His God and Father! We have been adopted into the very office of Melchizedek—not the priesthood of Aaron, which cannot be in the office of a king. Only the office of Melchizedek is both King and Priest. If we fully understood what we have inherited, the Church would boldly operate at levels never seen before. The kingdom we have inherited is not of this world but is a heavenly kingdom that is above and over the world. His Kingship is over all kings. He’s the King of Kings!

Now when Jesus came to Peter to wash his feet, Peter resisted. Clearly, Peter didn’t understand what Jesus was preparing him for. Jesus tells Peter, “You have no part in Me if I don’t wash your feet.” Wow! This means Peter would not be included in that inheritance if he refused and didn’t allow it. Why? To understand what is going on, I need to reiterate that in order for priests to serve God in the Temple, they had to wash their feet and be baptized. So Jesus is conveying to Peter, If you are going to be a part of the Melchizedek servanthood, I must wash your feet to begin that service for you. 

Peter then replies, “Not my feet only, but also my hands and head!” Peter then got it. Just as priests have their feet washed and are also baptized—he said, “Wash all of me so I can be a part of You.”

“Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.’  Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’  Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’  Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” (John 13:6-9).

Once Jesus prepared all His disciples, He then explained what He has done for them.

“So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him” (John 13:12-16).

Did you catch that?

“Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him” (John 13:16).

He is speaking about being a servant and how the Father is greater than He. It’s all about the very foundational rule: A servant is only as great as how many he can serve! The more a servant can serve, the greater he is.

Jesus explains the kingdom to them before He goes to the cross. It also demonstrates that Jesus has plans for them to go out and operate in the same order of Melchizedek in His name.

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

Now we can clearly understand why John had to baptize Jesus and why Jesus washed His disciples’ feet before the cross. It also explains why He commanded them to wait in Jerusalem for a while to be baptized in the Holy Spirit—the Comforter—to seal their calling and office of Melchizedek. Just as the Father sent the Spirit upon Jesus after His baptism in the shape of a dove, so too Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to them on Pentecost (Shavuot) about 50 days after He washed their feet, after He died and rose again.

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth… (John 14:16-17).

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’” (Acts 1:4-5).

Look at this verse! Jesus is explaining to them that a baptism is coming, and He connects John’s baptism of water with their coming baptism in the Holy Spirit. Why? It once again confirms the office Jesus stepped into at the beginning of His ministry and the office they are now about to enter.

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).

As we follow Jesus, we are not merely forgiven—we are commissioned. He placed His Name upon us, filled us with His Spirit, and brought us into the royal priesthood of the Melchizedek order. This is our inheritance and our calling. When the Church fully embraces the authority and servanthood of this office, we will walk in the same power, humility, and effectiveness that marked the early disciples, bringing glory to the King of Kings in everything we do.