Before the feast of Passover,

Before the garden flame,

He knew the hour was moving

And knew from whence he came.

All things were in his hands,

The Father's road lay clear;

Still love did not climb upward,

Love knelt beside them there.

He loved them unto the end,

Past failure, pride, and fear.

He loved them unto the end,

And drew the basin near.

The hands that held all heaven

Took dust from human feet;

He loved them unto the end,

And made the servant's place complete.

He rose and laid his garments down,

Tied the towel at his side,

Poured water in the basin,

And knelt where sandals dried.

One by one he washed them,

The faithful and the frail;

Even feet that soon would leave him

Passed beneath the towel.

Peter drew his feet away:

"Lord, dost thou wash mine?"

"What I do thou knowest not,

But understanding comes in time."

"Thou shalt never wash me."

The answer reached the core:

"If I wash thee not,

Thou hast no part with me."

"Not feet alone, but hands and head."

The heart leapt past the sign.

The washed need only cleanse the road,

Yet not all there were clean.

He loved them unto the end,

Past failure, pride, and fear.

He loved them unto the end,

And drew the basin near.

The hands that held all heaven

Took dust from human feet;

He loved them unto the end,

And made the servant's place complete.

He clothed himself and sat again:

"Know ye what I have done?

Ye call me Master and Lord,

And rightly name the one.

If Lord and Master washed your feet,

Then wash each other's way.

The servant is not greater;

Blessed are ye if ye obey."

Yet one at table lifted heel,

The Scripture waited near.

He told them before the breaking

That faith might stand through fear.

Then trouble moved across his soul:

"One here will betray."

The disciples searched each other's faces,

Not knowing whom he named.

The beloved disciple leaned and asked;

The answer took the bread:

"He it is to whom the sop

Will be given when it is dipped."

Jesus gave it unto Judas;

Dark purpose took him whole.

"What thou doest, do quickly."

No other man yet knew.

They thought of money,

Or gifts for the poor.

Judas took the sop,

Went immediately out,

And it was night.