First Thoughts: I recall attending a prayer meeting in the home of a kindly elder several years ago. I was going through a very difficult time in my life and honestly didn't feel much like talking to God. So I kept my eyes open when everyone else closed their eyes in meditation. I noticed a sculpture in the middle of the coffee table depicting a man kneeling on the ground, hands reaching up. I thought: "That's exactly how I feel -- defeated, vulnerable, desperate, hands raised in supplication that someone will show mercy." After our prayer time, I asked our host about the sculpture. He smiled and told me it was the image of Jesus kneeling to wash the disciples' feet. I was stunned! I had made the same mistake as the disciples in our scripture passage. I thought that kneeling was a sign of weakness and desperation when really -- when it is offered out of love and compassion -- kneeling is a sign of great power. Only the truest and deepest love will compel us to kneel before someone who needs our care, and that's exactly the kind of love which connects us to God's own heart. Washing the disciples' feet, master kneeling to servants, is a paradigm-shifting act, one we are called to continue to this day. What a blessing for those of us who teach children, who get to practice this holy kneeling on a regular basis!
Teaching On Your Own: (holds newspaper) Hey everybody, guess what? I put a personal ad in the paper. Want to hear what it says? "Wanted: BFF. Must enjoy sports and video games and be available to hang out on weekends." Do you know what a BFF is? Best Friend Forever! Do any of you have BFF's? Did you take out an ad in the paper to find one? No? How did you become best friends? I guess if you want to have a friend, you have to be a friend, don't you? Like being kind, listening to your friends' problems, sharing with them, letting them cry when they need to, and having fun together. I guess I can't just look for a BFF; I have to be a BFF. Just like our lesson today.
It was Jesus' last night with his friends and before he left he wanted to show them what it really meant to be a Christian. So he got a big basin of water and a towel, then he knelt before the disciples and began washing their feet. Now that's pretty gross, right? In fact, it was so gross that only the lowliest servant in the household did it. But Jesus wanted the disciples to understand that the only way to be great in God's kingdom is to become a servant. Maybe that seems a bit backward in the eyes of the world, but the way God sees things is different. So Jesus washed their feet. Then he told them that if they were really going to be his followers, if they really wanted to be great in God's kingdom, they would have to do the same thing for each other and for anyone they met along the way. It wasn't enough for them to just call themselves Jesus' followers; they had to act like it. Just like it's not enough to call myself a BFF. I need to do it. So maybe I'll get rid of this paper and try something else instead. (aside to a child) Hey, who wants to play soccer next Saturday?
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 has newspaper, looks through it)
Leader 1: Hey (name), what are you doing with that newspaper?
Leader 2: Looking for something.... Found it! It's a personal ad I put in the paper.
Leader 1: A personal ad? What does it say?
Leader 2: "Wanted: BFF. Must enjoy sports and video games and be available to hang out on weekends."
Leader 1: You put an ad in the paper to look for a BFF?
Leader 2: Yeah. You know, "Best Friend Forever"?
Leader 1: I know what it means, but you can't find a BFF through an ad.
Leader 2: What do you mean?
Leader 1: You have to grow a friendship and that takes time and commitment. It means being kind, listening to your friends' problems, sharing with them, letting them cry when they need to, and having fun together.
Leader 2: So you're saying I can't just look for a BFF, I have to be a BFF.
Leader 1: Exactly. Just like our lesson today. It was Jesus' last night with his friends and before he left he wanted to show them what it really meant to be a Christian. So he got a big basin of water and a towel, then he knelt before the disciples and began washing their feet.
Leader 2: Washing their feet? Ew, gross.
Leader 1: Yes, it was gross. In fact, it was so gross that only the lowliest servant in the household did it. But Jesus wanted the disciples to understand that the only way to be great in God's kingdom is to become a servant.
Leader 2: But that seems kind of backward.
Leader 1: Maybe in the eyes of the world, but the way God sees things is different. So Jesus washed their feet. Then he told them that if they were really going to be his followers, if they really wanted to be great in God's kingdom, they would have to do the same thing for each other and for anyone they met along the way. It wasn't enough for them to just call themselves Jesus' followers; they had to act like it.
Leader 2: Just like it's not enough to call myself a BFF. I need to do it.
Leader 1: Exactly.
Leader 2: So maybe I'll get rid of this paper and try something else instead. (aside to a child) Hey, you want to go play soccer next Saturday?
Closing Prayer: Dear God, give us hearts full of love and knees ready to kneel before those who need our care. Remind us that serving others might seem small in the eyes of the world, but it is greatness in your eyes. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, recreate the scene in the scripture passage. Set a simple table, providing a few foods and drink. You can have raisins, cheese sticks, apple slices, crackers -- anything the children might like, along with some water or juice. Have all the foods out but don't serve them at first. When everyone is seated, you can get a basin of water, a towel and soap, and kneel in front of the first child. (This works best if you prepare warm, soapy water in advance, and if you have a pitcher of clean water to pour over the feet. I usually try to have several towels available so they don't get too soggy. Personally I also like to have a bit of lotion or oil to put on the child's feet, since it extends the ritual a bit and adds a deeper element of caring.) When you kneel before the first child, remove his or her shoes gently and begin to wash. Be sure to take your time and even say a silent blessing over each child. Don't feel the need to explain anything, only answering questions as they come up. When you've completed the ritual for all children, have a discussion. How did they felt when you first began washing their feet? Embarrassed, nervous, happy? Explain that this is what Jesus did to show the disciples how important it was for them to show God's love to others through serving others.
Challenge the children to follow your example. Since you served them by washing their feet, how can they serve each other through the sharing of food? Perhaps you can encourage them to prepare snacks for each other or even to feed each other a few bites as they offer each other a blessing. Close by encouraging the children to come up with different ways they can serve in the world this coming week.
