The Foot Washing (A Poem)

Jesus knew the hour had come that soon He should depart;

He loved them all unto the last, him tugging at His heart.

The devil having done his thing, his heel was lifted up;

but this thing, too, was given Him – and us if we would sup.

He laid His garments to the side; a towel He made His girdle.

With water in a basin now, He'd overcome this hurdle.

Their feet He took them in His hands and washed them everyone;

He washed their feet though they were clean except for Simon's son.

He came to Simon, Peter said, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

“What I do now you do not know.” Be patient. Keep your seat.

“Never shall you wash my feet.” I'll never stand for that.

“If not, with Me you'll have no part.” You don't know what I'm at.

“Not just my feet. My hands! My head!” With you I need my part.

Before He spoke, Jude noticed this, his way His eyes did dart.

“Who's bathed needs nothing else to do, he's clean as clean can be;

but you're not all.” Jude has his fault, but just the two could see.

The covenant was made in stealth, so only he would know.

The darting eyes spoke otherwise; here's what those eyes did show:

They showed that Jesus knew the tale that only Jude should tell;

but this He kept between them two, He'd taught them this as well.

He'd taught them, “If a brother fail, to him go tell his fault.

And more than that, for your sake too, forgive him as you ought.”

So now His eyes accomplished this, His washing did it too.

Examples of these lessons here, He gave for me and you.

But if our heart is hardened, against those we have judged,

our mind's made up, and nothing said, could ever make us budge,

forever we're against them, and we always hold the grudge:

In the arteries of life we serve as nothing more than sludge.

He heard the words of Jesus. He's the only one who could,

because He kept it private. That's the way He said they should.

So Jesus gained His brother, it's the thing that He was at.

He overcame the devil and the precious ointment spat.

So taking up His garments, and once again His seat,

He asked them if they understood regarding washing feet.

Of course they couldn't understand the thing that they'd been given;

but afterward they'd hear the tale that Judas was forgiven.

This poem is offered only in my own name.