It's a vivid picture. It's the day before Jesus is going to die. He knows it, even if his disciples don't know it yet. He know he's about to suffer. He knows he's about to die. But John tells us what's on his mind. "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."

He's not stuck on the suffering, and he's not stuck on the death. His mind is on the love that he has for his disciples. And in that love, he gets down on his hands and knees and washes his disciples feet. What is he really doing here? He's illustrating the gospel. 

He's illustrating the gospel, that he himself, the King of Kings and Creator of the world, was about to humble himself to die on the cross for the sins of the world. 

Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. That's you.  Jesus has washed you clean.