How pleasant is it

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1.
How pleasant is it and how good
that followers of Jesus should,
in faith and love uniting,
like servants wash each other's feet
when at the feast of love they meet,
in fellowship delighting.

2.
'Tis precious and of honored worth,
that Christ our Lord, while here on earth,
divine love demonstrating,
in true humility of heart
stooped down to play the servant's part,
this practice consecrating.

3.
Then let us give our clearest thought
in this our time, as servants ought,
unto this new ablution,
so that we too in it may share
in humble love as we prepare
for certain persecution.

4.
Who thus engages in this rite
must note how Christ did it that night
in deep humiliation,
and also see that being whole
requires the cleansing of the soul
through Christ's outpoured salvation.

5.
And now, Lord Jesus, finally may
your good Spirit outpoured be,
your grace and might displaying,
and thus shall we in this hour
start to live like you, with a whole heart,
your holy love obeying.

Words:  attributed to Wilhelm Knepper, Geistreiches Gesang-buch, 1720;
                    tr. Ora W. Garber, European Origins of the Brethren, 1958, alt.
                            Translation copyright © 1958, Church of the Brethren General Board
   Tune:  Geistreiches Gesang-buch, 1720
                            Harmonization copyright © 1983 Hedwig T. Durnbaugh

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