Jesus Washed His Helpers' Feet
John 13:1-20, 34-35
Our story comes from a book of the Bible called John.
In Bible times, people wore sandals that covered just the bottoms of their feed. Sometimes they just went barefoot.
The Bible tells us about Jesus. One night Jesus had a big dinner with His friends.
Special food was prepared...
...and a table was set. A big jar of water was probably set by the door for washing.
But there was no one to wash anyone’s feet. Only Jesus and His friends were there.
Jesus took of His coat and wrapped a towel around His waist.
Then He poured water in a large bowl. Then He began to wash each one of His friends’ feet. He dried the feet with the towel He had wrapped around His waist.
When Jesus got to His friend Peter, Peter asked, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
“Yes, Peter.” Jesus answered.
“But You are our Lord and teacher,” Peter said. “You shouldn’t be washing out feet!”
Jesus answered, “You don’t understand what I am doing right now. But you will later.”
When Jesus was done washing all of His friends’ feet, he put His coat back on and sat down at the table. “I washed your feet so you will know how much I love all of you. You can show love for others too.”
Peter and all of Jesus’ friends listened carefully to Jesus’ words.
Jesus showed them how to love each other. Jesus shows us how to love each other too.When Paul talked about God’s Word, people listened and believed in God. We can all listen to God’s Word.
Our story comes from a book of the Bible called John.
In Bible times, people wore sandals that covered just the bottoms of their feed. Sometimes they just went barefoot.
Bible-time people traveled by walking in their sandals on dirt roads. Everyone’s feet got dirty from the dust. They needed to have their feet washed when they went inside a house. Someone who worked at a house would wash the guests’ feet. It felt good on their feet.
The Bible tells us about Jesus. One night Jesus had a big dinner with His friends.
Special food was prepared...
Jesus’ friends sat down at the table. Jesus wanted to do something special for His friends to show He loved them.
Jesus took of His coat and wrapped a towel around His waist.
Then He poured water in a large bowl. Then He began to wash each one of His friends’ feet. He dried the feet with the towel He had wrapped around His waist.
When Jesus got to His friend Peter, Peter asked, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
“Yes, Peter.” Jesus answered.
“But You are our Lord and teacher,” Peter said. “You shouldn’t be washing out feet!”
Jesus answered, “You don’t understand what I am doing right now. But you will later.”
When Jesus was done washing all of His friends’ feet, he put His coat back on and sat down at the table. “I washed your feet so you will know how much I love all of you. You can show love for others too.”
Peter and all of Jesus’ friends listened carefully to Jesus’ words.
Jesus showed them how to love each other. Jesus shows us how to love each other too.When Paul talked about God’s Word, people listened and believed in God. We can all listen to God’s Word.
Bible Paraphrase: Worship the LORD. (Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9 NIV)
Text Truth: Jesus shows us how to love each other.
Read John 13:1-7. Jesus’ humility in washing His disciples’ feet showed God’s love to them.
Now read John 13:34-35. When you show love to others, you are showing them you are one of Jesus’ disciples, a follower of Christ.
Claim the promise of love found in 1 John 4:12:
Ask the Lord to help you love others, even the hard-to-love people He places in your life.
You’ll Need: washcloths or paper towels, note paper, pencils or washable markers
You and your child can plan a special way to show love at mealtime, just a Jesus did. Have your child help you fold washcloths or paper towels and put a loving message inside each one. Place these towels beside the bathroom sink or wherever your family washes up for dinner.
You’ll Need: craft foam, hole punch, pencil, safety scissors, yarn, glue, sand
Trace your child’s show onto a piece of craft foam and cut it out. Punch four holes on each long side of the foam sandal. Trace your child’s feet onto a piece of flesh colored paper. Let your child cut them out and glue one on each side of the foam sandal. Then your child can lace the sandal with a piece of yarn. Glue some sand or dirt on one foot. Hang the sandal where it will remind your child that Jesus showed love to His friends and we can show love to others.
Trips to the park are fun and help children show love to each other by learning to take turns and share. If the weather is warm in your area, take your child to the park. If not, invite some children over to play with your child.
You’ll Need: wet wipes or a bucket of water and a towel
Let your child experience the Bible story by washing feet. As a family, take turns washing each other’s feet using wet wipes or a bucket of water and a towel. You may want to do this activity in the kitchen or bathroom, in case the water spills.
Thank God for the way He shows love to us. Ask Him to help you show love to others. Encourage your preschooler to ask Jesus for help showing love in ways he or she might struggle, such as being kind to brothers or sisters or sharing toys.
Text Truth: Jesus shows us how to love each other.
Family Devotional
Now read John 13:34-35. When you show love to others, you are showing them you are one of Jesus’ disciples, a follower of Christ.
Claim the promise of love found in 1 John 4:12:
If we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
Ask the Lord to help you love others, even the hard-to-love people He places in your life.
Activities You Can Do at Home
Make Mealtime Special
You’ll Need: washcloths or paper towels, note paper, pencils or washable markers
You and your child can plan a special way to show love at mealtime, just a Jesus did. Have your child help you fold washcloths or paper towels and put a loving message inside each one. Place these towels beside the bathroom sink or wherever your family washes up for dinner.
Make a Sandal
You’ll Need: craft foam, hole punch, pencil, safety scissors, yarn, glue, sand
Trace your child’s show onto a piece of craft foam and cut it out. Punch four holes on each long side of the foam sandal. Trace your child’s feet onto a piece of flesh colored paper. Let your child cut them out and glue one on each side of the foam sandal. Then your child can lace the sandal with a piece of yarn. Glue some sand or dirt on one foot. Hang the sandal where it will remind your child that Jesus showed love to His friends and we can show love to others.
Play and Show Love
Trips to the park are fun and help children show love to each other by learning to take turns and share. If the weather is warm in your area, take your child to the park. If not, invite some children over to play with your child.
Wash Feet
You’ll Need: wet wipes or a bucket of water and a towel
Let your child experience the Bible story by washing feet. As a family, take turns washing each other’s feet using wet wipes or a bucket of water and a towel. You may want to do this activity in the kitchen or bathroom, in case the water spills.
Pray and Thank God for Showing Love
Thank God for the way He shows love to us. Ask Him to help you show love to others. Encourage your preschooler to ask Jesus for help showing love in ways he or she might struggle, such as being kind to brothers or sisters or sharing toys.
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Story illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages (http://freebibleimages.org) for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported licence.
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