Why did Jesus wash the disciples' feet? CQ Kids

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Why did Jesus wash the disciples’ feet?

In Jesus’ time, people walked in sandals along dusty roads. Typically, when you visited someone, your host would have their servant wash your feet so that you would feel clean and refreshed. Washing someone’s feet was considered to be a job for someone with low status.

But for the night of the Passover supper, since Jesus and his twelve apostles were only using an upper room, there was no official host.

During supper, the apostles started arguing among themselves who would have the greatest position of honor in the future kingdom that Jesus had promised to share with them.

Jesus arose from the table, put a towel around his waist, and humbly washed their feet as a servant would have. Surprisingly, no one had previously thought to do this for him or for each other. It seems that none of them were willing to take on a servant’s position.

But Jesus was.

After he finished, he said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:14-17 NIV)

In other words, if you understand, appreciate and sincerely practice this lesson about serving that I have taught you, you will be blessed in my service and in God’s future kingdom.

In performing this humble task, Jesus gave them - and us - a very important example to follow. We should love and serve one another in meekness and humility. We should not consider any form of service too “beneath us” to be performed for each other’s comfort and benefit.

Today, we can “wash each other’s feet” - not with literal soap and water, but figuratively, by being on the lookout for ways to refresh others. Is someone you know sad or discouraged? Build them up spiritually with a comforting scripture or offer to help them. In this way, we are figuratively washing their feet, by blessing and refreshing them with our love, kindness and attention. The focus will be rightly on THEM, and not on US.

Galatians says, (5:13, NLT ) “...serve one another in love.”

So, why did Jesus wash the disciples’ feet? To teach a lesson of humility and a willingness to serve others even in the most humble way. The apostles lost an opportunity to perform a refreshing service for Jesus and each other, but we can learn from that by eagerly looking for ways to be a blessing to others. How can you figuratively wash someone’s feet today?

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What is humility?
www.youtube.com/watch

What is a blessing?
www.youtube.com/watch

How can we be of service to others?
www.youtube.com/watch

Why did Jesus have to die?
www.youtube.com/watch

What happened at the Last Supper? (Parts 1 and 2)
www.youtube.com/watch
www.youtube.com/watch

IMAGE CREDITS:
Title page art, and other images of Jesus with disciples - art by Richard Gunther (www.lambsongs.co.nz) from freebibleimages.org.
Bread and Wine (bread image) Richard Gunther (www.richardgunther.org) from freebibleimages.org.