The New Commandment — Love One Another Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Jesus loved his friends so very much.”
It was supper time, just before the Passover feast. Jesus was with his friends. He knew he would soon go back to his Father. Jesus loved his friends so very much.
Long ago, people walked on dusty roads in sandals. Their feet got very dirty. Imagine a long walk on a dusty road. Your feet would be brown with dust! Usually a servant washed the guests’ feet. It was a servant’s job.
During supper, Jesus got up. He took off his outer coat. He wrapped a towel around his waist. He poured water into a bowl. And he washed his friends’ feet, one by one. Then he dried them with the towel. Can you pretend to wash feet? Splash, splash!
Jesus knew that the Father had given him everything. He was their Teacher and Lord. But he bent down and did a servant’s job for them!
Then he came to Peter. Peter said, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You don’t know what I am doing now. But you will understand later.”
Peter said, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” That means: you can’t belong with me.
Then Peter said, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Now Peter wanted to be washed all over! Can you point to your feet, your hands, and your head?
Jesus washed their feet, and then he sat down again. He said, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am.” He said, “I have given you an example. That you should also do as I have done to you.” An example shows you how to do something. Jesus loved his friends so very much.
Later Jesus said, “Little children, I will be with you a little while longer.” He called his friends little children!
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.” A commandment is a rule from God.
“Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.” How did Jesus love them? He took care of them. He washed their feet. He was kind to them every day. Jesus loved his friends so very much.
Can you give someone near you a big hug? That is one way to show love. A kind word, sharing, and helping are ways to show love too.
Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples. If you have love for one another.” Disciples are friends who follow Jesus.
Jesus loved his friends all the way to the end. And he loves you with a great love too, tonight and always. Jesus loved his friends so very much.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Peter felt when Jesus washed his feet?
- What is one way you can show love to someone in your family?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another” — John 13:34 (A new commandment → hold up one finger; I give to you → hold out your hands; love one another → hug someone near you)
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us so much. Please help us to love one another. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Love Is the Sign
Memory verse: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.” — John 13:34 · WEB
The Bible story
On a special evening, Jesus shared supper with His friends, washed their tired feet, and gave them one gentle new rule that could change the whole world.
Talk about it
- Where did Jesus share supper with His friends? — In an upstairs room
- What surprising thing did Jesus do at supper? — He washed their feet
- Who left the supper before Jesus gave the new command? — Judas
- Who did not want Jesus to wash his feet at first? — Peter
- Whose job was it usually to wash feet? — A servant's
- What new command did Jesus give His friends? — Love one another
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jesus did not only teach about love—He lived it. That very night He knelt to wash dusty feet, and soon He would give His whole life on the cross to rescue us. When Jesus says to love one another as He has loved us, He is showing us the greatest love of all: a love that serves, forgives, and never gives up. Because Jesus loves us first, we can love others too.
What God wants to tell us
Jesus showed His friends that loving one another is the most important thing of all. God does not just want us to say kind words—He wants us to show love by helping, sharing, and forgiving, just like Jesus knelt down to wash His friends' feet. When we love others, we let God's love shine through us, and that is how the whole world can see who Jesus is.
Prayer
Thank You, God, for loving me first. Please help me love others the way Jesus loves me—by being kind, sharing, and forgiving. Let Your love shine through me today so everyone can see You. Amen.
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