Depending upon the timing of the Lukan passage, Jesus may have already rebuked the apostles for trying to get the best seats at the beginning of the meal (Luke 22:24-30) and He now gives them a living parable to illustrate His point even further.

Luke 22:24-30  Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.  Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.  But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.  You are those who have stood by me in my trials.  And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,  so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“got up” = from reclining at the table. Remember that the meal is already in progress (verse 13:2). The first cup has already been consumed and the next part of the Passover was the first of the ritual handwashings. The second handwashing would be done by all present, but this first handwashing was to be done by the Head of the Company alone immediately following the first cup.

John 13:2  The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.

The disciples would not have been surprised when Jesus got up, but they must have wondered when He took off His outer garments, put on the towel, and filled the basin with water, like a slave who was about to do the lowest of all jobs.

This incident must have been foremost in Peter’s mind when years later he wrote (1 Peter 5:5).

1 Peter 5:5  Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The Word had an integral part in creation.

The first half of the verse and the second say the same thing, first positively and then, negatively. The repetition is, again, for emphasis and clarification, and proves the validity of verse 1.  For everything to have been made through Him, the Word must have been present at the beginning, with God, and must indeed be God, Who alone is the Creator (Col 1:16-17, Heb 1:8-12, 2Peter 3:5).

Colossians 1:16-17  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:8-12  But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

2Peter 3:5  But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.

The Word was the One “through Whom” everything was made. He was the agent in creation (1Cor 8:6, Heb 1:2). This makes Him overwhelmingly qualified for the work of our redemption.

1 Corinthians 8:6  yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Hebrews 1:2  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

Morris states, “There is a change of tense.  ‘Were made’ (aorist) regards creation in its totality, as one act.  But ‘hath been made’ is perfect, and this conveys the thought of the continuing existence of created things. What we see around us did not come into existence apart from the Word, any more than what appeared in the first day of creation.” (NICNT p. 80)