Teaching children to be humble can be hard. We all want our children to be proud of what they accomplish, yet being too proud can lead to the opposite of humble! Think about the children you see on the playground, on the ball field, at competitions.
Many children nowadays tend to be arrogant. All too often, I hear the words, "Your going to lose.", "You can beat me!" or "I'm better at this than you'll ever be."
These are not words Jesus wants us to say to others.
Teaching our Sunday school class about being humble and how Jesus was humble is a step in the right direction. Talk to them about putting others first, thinking of others feelings, and helping others when they need help. Of course, teaching them to compliment and encourage others isn't a bad thing either.
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
Being by talking to your class about what the word humble means.
As you being this Sunday school lesson, talk about how wonderful Jesus is. Have the kids think about all the wonderful things Jesus did while he was here on earth.
They may come up with words like:
- perfect
- loving
- kind
- mighty
- powerful
- famous
- forgiving
- tender
- miracles or miraculous
- and many others
After they have finished thinking of words that describe Jesus, say, "There is one word we are forgetting - humble." (More than likely, they will not think of this word to describe Jesus.)
If your class consists of older children, have them turn in the bible to John 13:4-9 (KJV below) and let them take turns reading the verses below. After each verse, tell about what the verses mean so they grasp the story more fully (see below the verses for more).
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Verse 4
We see in verse 4 that Jesus is setting at supper with his disciples - The Last Supper. Jesus laid aside his garments which simply means he removed his robe. Taking a towel, he placed it in his belt.
Verse 5
Jesus poured water into a bowl and stared to wash and wipe the dirt with the towel from each of the disciples' feet.
Verse 6
When he was ready to wash Simon Peter's feet, Simon Peter asked Jesus why he was washing his feet. Peter didn't understand.
Verse 7
Jesus tells Simon Peter that there is more to what he was doing than just washing feet. Even though Simon Peter didn't fully understand what was going on and why Jesus was doing this, he would soon enough.
Verse 8
Simon Peter then objected to Jesus washing his feet! He goes so far as to say never! Jesus calmly tells him that if he does not wash his feet, then he will have no part of him.
Verse 9
Simon Peter loved Jesus. He wanted to be with Jesus and be a part of him and changed his mind quickly. He thought that if he could be with Jesus and be a part of him just by having his feet washed, then he wanted Jesus to wash his whole body too!
Be sure to get the Sunday School Activity that goes along with this lesson. It's FREE!
Meaning of Foot Washing
In bible times, there were no roads or sidewalks. People wore sandals and the dirt on the roads made their feet really dirty and dusty. When someone would enter into another person's house, a servant would normally wash the guest's feet.
Since Jesus had a room prepared to eat the last supper alone with his disciples, there were no servants there.
This was all a part of Jesus' plan. Keep reading....
Dig a Bit Deeper
Think of this first...why didn't one of the disciples think about washing the other's feet? Did they think they were too good to do it? Would they have been embarrassed? Did they worry about what the other disciples would think of them and didn't want to be ashamed?
Thankfully, Jesus showed his disciples, and us, that we should be humble and not ashamed to wash someone else's feet. It also shows us that we should never be ashamed and always be humble when it comes to doing things for the Lord.
Of course, there was more to the feet washing than this.
When we dig a bit deeper, we see that to be washed means to be saved. When you ask Jesus to come into your heart to live forever, the bible tells us that you will be washed as white as snow!
Psalm 51:7 KJV
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Even though Jesus washed the disciple's feet to show humility, their feet became dirty again when they left the room. But, when we are washed white as snow from our sins, we never have to worry about being washed again!
Once you are saved, you never have to worry about not being saved again!
You can rest assured that you will one day be in heaven forever! Jesus died for our sins so that we could live in heaven forever! All we need to do is not be ashamed and step forward to ask Jesus into our hearts.
Leading Children to Christ
Have the kids to close their eyes.
Ask if anyone in the room would like to have Jesus in their hearts. This is what we as Sunday school teachers are there for. To help lead little ones to Christ.
Be sure to read Romans 10:9-10 KJV to prepare yourself for this lesson.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
With the Lord's help, you can lead a lost child to Christ.
Before teaching this Sunday school lesson, pray that God will open the hearts and minds of the children in your class and that he will help you say what needs to be said to teach his word.
May God bless you.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons, Patricia Sobrino Hoyos
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