Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet 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 all the way.”
It was almost time for the Passover feast. The Passover was a special holiday for God’s people. Jesus knew that soon he would leave this world and go back to his Father. He had always loved his own friends. Jesus loved his friends all the way.
That evening Jesus and his friends were eating supper together. Jesus knew that God, his Father, had given all things into his hands. He knew that he came from God and was going to God.
Then Jesus got up from the table. He took off his outer coat. He wrapped a towel around his waist. What do you think Jesus is going to do?
In those days, people walked everywhere in sandals. The roads were dusty and dirty. So their feet got dusty and dirty too. Can you wiggle your toes? Wiggle, wiggle!
When guests came to a house, a servant washed their feet. It was a servant’s job. It was not a job for the teacher. Washing feet is not a nice job. Feet can be smelly!
But Jesus poured water into a basin – a big bowl. Then Jesus began to wash his friends’ feet. Splish, splash! Splish, splash! He went from one friend to the next. He dried their feet with the towel. Can you pretend to wash and dry your feet? Jesus loved his friends all the way.
Then Jesus came to Simon Peter. Peter asked, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him. “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”
Peter said, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus was his Lord and his Teacher. Maybe Peter thought his Lord should not do a servant’s job.
Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” That means: then you can not belong with me.
Then Peter said, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Peter wanted to belong to Jesus very much. Let’s do it like Peter: touch your feet, your hands, your head!
Jesus said, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed.” If you had a bath, only your dusty feet need washing again.
Jesus washed all their feet, one friend after another, until every foot was clean. Jesus loved his friends all the way.
Then he put his coat back on. He sat down again. “Do you know what I have done to you?” he asked. “You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am.” Jesus really is the Teacher and the Lord.
“I have given you an example. You should also do as I have done to you.” An example is something to copy. Jesus had shown them how to help each other. He, the Lord, had done the servant’s job.
Jesus, the Lord and the Teacher, served his friends with love. To serve means to help someone. He loved them to the very end. Jesus loved his friends all the way.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Why do you think Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet?
- How do you think the friends felt when Jesus came to them with the towel?
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)
“I have given you an example” — John 13:15 (I have given you → hold out your hands; an example → point to yourself, then to a friend)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you loved your friends all the way. Thank you that you love me too. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Love Means Serving
Memory verse: “For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you.” — John 13:15 · WEB
The Bible story
On His very last night with His friends, Jesus knelt down with a towel and a bowl of water to gently wash their dusty, tired feet. Why would a King do that?
Talk about it
- What meal was Jesus sharing with His friends? — Supper in the evening
- What did Jesus take off before washing their feet? — His outer robe
- What did Jesus wrap around His waist? — A long towel
- What did Jesus pour into the big bowl? — Cool water
- What kind thing did Jesus do for His friends? — Washed their feet
- Who was surprised and said Jesus should not wash his feet? — Peter
Where is Jesus in this story?
When Jesus knelt to wash dusty feet, He was showing the whole world what God's love looks like. Jesus, the King of everything, chose to serve instead of to be served. Soon He would give His life to make our hearts clean, just as the water made those feet clean. Every time we let Jesus love us and help us love others, we are part of His wonderful rescuing plan.
What God wants to tell us
Jesus was the greatest teacher of all, yet He knelt down to do the humblest, dirtiest job so His friends would feel loved and cared for. God shows us that real love is not about being the boss or the most important person. It is about looking for little ways to help, to share, and to be kind, even when nobody is watching. When we serve others gladly, we are doing exactly what Jesus did that special evening.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You that Jesus loved His friends so much that He washed their dusty feet. Help me to be kind and to look for little ways to help others every day. Make my heart happy to serve, just like Jesus. Thank You that Your love never ends. Amen.
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