Jesus Washed the Feet of His Friends
John 13:3-17
Our true story is found in a part, or book, of the Bible called John. John loved Jesus and was one of the special helpers of Jesus.
One night, Jesus was having dinner with His friends. While they were sitting around the table, Jesus did something that most people would never do.
Jesus got a bowl and poured water in it. Then Jesus took the water and washed His friends’ feet. He went from friend to friend to friend.
After Jesus washed each of His friends’ feet, He used a towel to dry them off.
In the time of the Bible, people did not wear shoes, they wore sandals. And the did not ride in cars, they everywhere. That meant their feet got VERY dirty. If they walked in a mud puddle, all of that mud dried on their feet and it was yucky! Can you imagine all the dirt under their toenails? That’s what Jesus’ friends’ feet were like when He started washing them!
Would you want to wash those dirty feet? No. Most people wouldn’t. But Jesus did. Jesus is such a good friend. And Jesus is your friend, too! Jesus loves you so much, He is willing to do things other people don’t want to do. He’ll do the hard jobs, the stinky jobs, and the not-so-fun jobs, all because He loves you SO much.
Jesus did something very special with His friends in our Bible story. Jesus washed His friends’ feet. Jesus wanted to show His friends what it looks like to be a good friend.
With your family, make a list. Write down things you can do to be a good friend, like Jesus is a good friend.
Pray with your family. Allow any family members to pray if they wish. Thank God for giving Jesus to be your friend. Ask God to help you be a good friend like Jesus and to do things like (read through your list). Agree that you want to love people and be a good friend to them no matter what.
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.
Our true story is found in a part, or book, of the Bible called John. John loved Jesus and was one of the special helpers of Jesus.
One night, Jesus was having dinner with His friends. While they were sitting around the table, Jesus did something that most people would never do.
Jesus got a bowl and poured water in it. Then Jesus took the water and washed His friends’ feet. He went from friend to friend to friend.
After Jesus washed each of His friends’ feet, He used a towel to dry them off.
In the time of the Bible, people did not wear shoes, they wore sandals. And the did not ride in cars, they everywhere. That meant their feet got VERY dirty. If they walked in a mud puddle, all of that mud dried on their feet and it was yucky! Can you imagine all the dirt under their toenails? That’s what Jesus’ friends’ feet were like when He started washing them!
Would you want to wash those dirty feet? No. Most people wouldn’t. But Jesus did. Jesus is such a good friend. And Jesus is your friend, too! Jesus loves you so much, He is willing to do things other people don’t want to do. He’ll do the hard jobs, the stinky jobs, and the not-so-fun jobs, all because He loves you SO much.
Bible Paraphrase: A friend loves at all times. – Proverbs 17:17, NIrV
Text Truth: Jesus is a good friend.
Family Devotional
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. – John 13:3-5
Jesus did something very special with His friends in our Bible story. Jesus washed His friends’ feet. Jesus wanted to show His friends what it looks like to be a good friend.
A friend loves at all times. – Proverbs 17:17
With your family, make a list. Write down things you can do to be a good friend, like Jesus is a good friend.
Pray with your family. Allow any family members to pray if they wish. Thank God for giving Jesus to be your friend. Ask God to help you be a good friend like Jesus and to do things like (read through your list). Agree that you want to love people and be a good friend to them no matter what.
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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