Lesson Continued...

. Warm Up

What things do you do that make your feet dirty or smelly? Does anyone have smelly feet right now?

Would you want to wash someone else's feet that are really dirty or smelly?

Teach the Story

This story is straightforward and should be read directly from the Bible to understand it. However, here are some highlights.

• Foot washing was a basic practice of hospitality in the Middle East. You can find examples of this in several Old Testament passages. You can just imagine how dirty their feet got as they were walking around the desert with only sandals on or bare feet! 

• Typically a servant would be presented to the guests as they entered a home to wash the feet of the guests. In this story, Jesus takes on the role of a lowly servant with his disciples. This was a powerful move on his part. They would not have expected their leader to wash their feet. This is why Peter objected so strongly to Jesus doing this for them.

• Jesus used this act of service to teach them one of the most important lessons in the Kingdom of God - in order to be considered great in the Kingdom of God, you must be a servant. He told us  this in Mark 10:35-45, he showed it to us by washing their feet, and then he died for us.

Comprehension Questions

• Where were Jesus and his disciples when he washed their feet?

In the upper room, eating the Last Supper together before he would be crucified

• How did he wash their feet?

He wrapped a towel around his waist, filled a basin with water, and washed their feet

• Who didn't like the fact that Jesus was washing their feet?

Peter

• Why was he unhappy?

He didn't think it was right for Jesus, as their leader, to wash their feet

• What was Jesus' response?

That he must wash Peter's feet; "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."

• In this story, we learn that God himself came to earth in the form of a man (Jesus). But instead of being the type of leader who rules over us, he came to be our servant. He came to lay his life down for us. How can you serve someone this week like Jesus served his disciples when he washed their feet?

Memory Verse 

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. (Acts 16:31 ESV)

Directions

1. Trace someone else's foot.

2. Cut out.

3. Write (or have the students write) "John 13:4-5" on each footprint. I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another's feet. I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you. John 13:14-15 

Directions

1. Draw round your own feet, and cut them out. 
2. Write or print out the verse below and add it to your feet…  “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13 v 15  
3. Now see if you can use a paper bowl/ similar, color in some water (or use blue tissue paper) and stick your feet with their verse to the inside. 

Directions

1. Divide students into two teams.

2. Each team chooses someone to get their feet washed.

3. That person sits across the room with their feet in a dish pan.

4. Have the relay teams run from the starting line to the person getting their feet washed.

5. They have to pick up the washcloth, rub the top of the foot and the bottom of the foot to get credit.

6. If you want to make this a little harder (and potentially hilarious), require each student to wash in between each toe too!

Directions

1. Have each child cut out BOTH of their footprints on construction paper. 
2. You make TWO footprints extra.
3. Divide them into two teams. 
4. Have them get in a single file line and put their footprints underneath them. 
5. Give each line leader an extra footprint. 
6. When you way go, each team has to lay down the extra footprint and take a step forward. when the last person in line takes a step, they pass the extra footprint to the front of the line to repeat the process. 
7. The first team to reach the end of the room wins.