Washing the Feet of Four Year Olds

John 13:4-14 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus 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!"
10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12When 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. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.

I had been preparing my lesson for the 4 year old class at Vacation Bible School. I believe in providing lessons in many forms, auditory, visual and kinesthetic. So, my thought was to do a footwashing with the class. Now, one might say, what are you thinking? What would a four year old get out of this experience? There are a number of older youth and adults who shy away from such an experience due to our phobias about feet or they don't care to be touched in such an intimate way. But, I thought it was worth a try. So I got a tub, a pitcher and grabbed the baby wipes. I figured that would be a much more comfortable experience for them. We read the scripture. I shared the scripture as a story with a drawing of the event. I then set up the scene and put a chair out with the tub . I invited one of the children to sit in the chair. I then began retelling the story while taking off his shoes and sockes and proceeding to wash his feet with the baby wipe. I really emphasized the verse about washing one another's feet and caring for others. One after another the children came willingly to the chair and let me retell the story and wash their feet. One girl nearly brought me to tears and she looked me in the eye the whole time I talked to her and she nodded her head in agreement as I invited her to take care of others, to wash other feet so to speak. It was all I could do not to start crying. This experience was very moving for me. I am so glad that I did not decide that this was not an activity that four year olds would understand. They definitely understood the significance of the experience and what it meant to care for each other. I am so thankful to God for the work of the Spirit in that moment.