{Passion Week Devotionals} Last Supper: Washing of Feet

by Christina Reif · March 28, 2014

I have to be honest with you–I did not feel like writing this post for today. I had put it off until the last minute, so I was feeling rushed. I was just coming off a bad sleeping night from my youngest, so I was cranky. And I just didn’t want to be servant. I wanted someone to serve me and help me feel better. But I guess that’s what Jesus must have felt a little too. He knew what He was about to do on the cross. He knew the agony of being separated from the Father that was coming. He probably wanted someone to take care of him right before. But instead, Jesus was a servant to His friends, washing their feet, even though later they would betray or deny him. Today we focus on that act of servant-hood.

In an effort to help our littles understand this event-packed, theologically dense week, we here at Play Eat Grow are sharing devotionals centered on Passion Week that can help you show your children what Jesus did and endured so that we could have a relationship with the Father. Each Friday up until Good Friday, we will hit one event during the Passion Week. Here’s what we have planned:

Palm Sunday
Anointing of Feet
Last Supper: Bread and Wine
Last Supper: Washing of Feet (this one!)
Garden of Gethsemane
Crucifixion
Resurrection

So thanks for joining us! And if you are looking for other resources to do during the week, be sure to check out this page. It’s never too late.

Last Supper: Washing of Feet

You can find the text of the Washing of Feet in John 13:1-17:

1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

To break this down for my three-year old (and 1 year old), I started by asking him what he knew about kings. He knew that they had a sword. And that they wore a hat (crown). I prompted him to remember that kings also had a lot of power.

Then I showed him some pictures. I started with this one, asking him to identify who was the king:

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He was quickly able to point out that the person standing was the king, but when I questioned him further, asking why he knew that he was the king, he wasn’t able to articulate anything. So I helped him. I asked him if he knew why the other person wasn’t a king. He said because he was dead. (I thought that was funny.) I informed him that he wasn’t dead, but I did use that as a segue into the idea that is was hard to be powerful as a king when you are lying on your face.

I asked him to make me a powerful face. This is is what he came up with.

Then I showed him this picture, asking the same question:

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He zoomed in on the king right away and was a little better at articulating why that particular person was the king.

Then, I threw him for a little loop with this last picture:

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The king is actually the one bowing down. I asked him if this seemed a little backwards. He agreed that it was. Then I asked him if he knew any kings. After some prodding, we landed on Jesus as king. Then I related how Jesus, a king, did something “backwards” and washed yucky, dirty feet as a way to show His love to His friends.

I briefly mentioned the word humility. I asked Sebastian if he knew that word. He said he did (although he often says he knows things he doesn’t know), so I asked him what it meant. He said it meant showing love. Now I don’t know where he got that from, whether from our mini lesson or Sunday school, but that little comment just warmed my heart. It’s not a perfect definition, but I think he is well on his way to understanding it, and that makes me excited.

Then, I washed his feet (and his brother’s).

Then I asked Sebastian if he wanted to wash mine. He was excited to do it. And he did a very sweet job of it, too.

We finished with a recap and prayer.

For older kids:

I would dive more into the privileges of being a king, emphasizing all Jesus gave up to become human and then lower Himself further to wash their feet. I would also go into a real look at the definition of humility and how what Jesus did was an example of that. Then I would look at the last few verses of the passage where Jesus asks His disciples if they understand why He did what He did. I would work out what the implications are for us today.

In the end, I’m glad the devil didn’t win this battle of my feelings taking over my actions. I’m glad that I was given an opportunity to be a servant and show my sons how to do that. This lesson was really as much for me (maybe more!) as for them.