High and Lowly

Not to worship, but to serve,
Not to worship, but to save,
Christ wrapped a towel around His waist,
And as He knelt He gave
A glorious affront
To pious expectation here.

Peter faltered at the grace,
Peter faltered in dismay,
Christ knelt to wash the grime and dirt
As Peter tried to say
His stammering rejection of
This high and lowly gift.

Place your hands upon His head,
Place your sins upon His head,
And think of what the ancients wrote
Which you, while trembling, read.
Majestic, royal, dignity
Was figured in a goat.