The bread and the wine of the Lord's Supper recall the loaves of shewbread (literally "bread of the presence") placed in the Holy Place on the morning of each Sabbath before prayers; and the wine likewise recalls the drink offering poured out at the base of the altar on the morning of each Sabbath before prayers.
Moreover, the account of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples at the start of his last Passover meal with them recalls the requirement that only a consecrated priest (one who had washed on entering the Temple) who had subsequently washed his hands and feet could partake of the loaves of shewbread from the previous Sabbath.
Whoever ranked as the least among the disciples should have washed the feet of the others, but the disciples argued over you this might be (Luke 22: 24-30), and evidently sat down to eat the Passover with unwashed feet. Jesus responded by rising before the first cup (when the host traditionally washed his hands before serving each guest a portion of the meal) and washing the disciples feet himself. John 13:1–17 records:
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus explains this gesture as an example of radically humble service, which the disciples are to imitate: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Scripture makes no further mention of foot washing in assembled worship or otherwise.
