Serving
Children's sermon
Object:
a wash basin and towel
On this holy night I brought with me something Jesus took
with him as he met with his disciples before he died. He did
something very unusual. Based upon what you see and what you
have heard read, will one of you tell me what Jesus did? (Let
them answer.) He washed their feet! Why do you suppose he did
that? Do you think it was because they were tracking in dust or
mud? (Let them answer.) Was it because Jesus wanted them to
try on some new socks? (Let them answer.) No -- it was none of
that. Jesus wanted to show his followers that they should serve
people.
You see, in Jesus' day one of the lowliest jobs was done by the person who washed feet. Only the very lowest person would wash a visitor's feet. Most people wouldn't do that. Most people washed their own feet. Only important people got their feet washed and they were washed by people others considered very unimportant. Jesus -- our Lord and King -- was washing feet!
One of the disciples -- the leader, whose name was Peter -- got very upset with Jesus offering to wash his feet. He said, "You will never wash my feet." Can you understand why Peter might say what he said? (Let them answer.) Peter loved Jesus and thought him to be the most important man alive and yet Jesus was going to wash his feet!
Jesus wanted to wash his disciples' feet to teach them an important lesson. The lesson is that Christians are called to serve one another and the world in which we live. Jesus even told his disciples, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another." We show our love by what we do -- by helping others.
But when we help others we don't do it alone. Jesus has promised to be with us. He gave his disciples bread and wine and promised all followers to be near them as they serve others. That is what makes this a very holy night.
Dearest Lord: You are near us. Teach us to serve as you served us by giving your life for us. Amen.
You see, in Jesus' day one of the lowliest jobs was done by the person who washed feet. Only the very lowest person would wash a visitor's feet. Most people wouldn't do that. Most people washed their own feet. Only important people got their feet washed and they were washed by people others considered very unimportant. Jesus -- our Lord and King -- was washing feet!
One of the disciples -- the leader, whose name was Peter -- got very upset with Jesus offering to wash his feet. He said, "You will never wash my feet." Can you understand why Peter might say what he said? (Let them answer.) Peter loved Jesus and thought him to be the most important man alive and yet Jesus was going to wash his feet!
Jesus wanted to wash his disciples' feet to teach them an important lesson. The lesson is that Christians are called to serve one another and the world in which we live. Jesus even told his disciples, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another." We show our love by what we do -- by helping others.
But when we help others we don't do it alone. Jesus has promised to be with us. He gave his disciples bread and wine and promised all followers to be near them as they serve others. That is what makes this a very holy night.
Dearest Lord: You are near us. Teach us to serve as you served us by giving your life for us. Amen.
