The answer is: Untie his sandals

Mark 1:7 - Which was work of servants and so he was showing great humility, saying he was not worthy to be a servant of the man who should come after him.

John the Baptist knew quite a bit about humility and grace! By claiming he's unworthy to untie Jesus' sandals—a job reserved for the lowliest servants—he wasn’t just being modest; he was giving a profound truth-teller's nod to Jesus' extraordinary nature. In the culture of the time, barefootedness meant one thing: impurity. Valuing cleanliness, especially in religious workflows, meant the foot-washing—and by extension, sandal-removing—was a job most people would avoid.

This vivid imagery echoes practices in ancient Middle Eastern customs but can also serve as a reflection of God’s overarching call for mercy and humility in all human interactions. Think about how in Matthew 11:29, Jesus later calls people to learn from him, stating, “I am gentle and humble in heart.” So here is John distinguishing the nature of true leadership: one that serves rather than demands honor.

Adventuring a little further into the Gospel’s textures, tie this moment to the Last Supper. When Jesus washed the disciples' feet, he was exemplifying the humble service John alluded to! Furthermore, in the grand symbolism of biblical significance, sandals also represent one's journey—remember how God told Moses to take off his sandals because he was on holy ground (Exodus 3:5)? What an insightful thread running through these intimate moments, each revealing layers of understanding about servitude and the sacred defined not by power, but by lowliness!