Michael Card - The Basin and the Towel Lyrics
Lyrics
And the call is to community
In an upstairs room, a parable
Is just about to come alive
And while they bicker about who's best
With a painful glance, He'll silently rise
Their Savior Servant must show them how
Through the will of the water
And the tenderness of the towel
And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free
In humility, to take the vow
That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel
In any ordinary place
On any ordinary day
The parable can live again
When one will kneel and one will yield
Our Saviour Servant must show us how
Through the will of the water
And the tenderness of the towel
The space between ourselves sometimes
Is more than the distance between the stars
By the fragile bridge of the Servant's bow
We take up the basin and the towel
And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free
In humility, to take the vow
That day after day we must take up the basin
And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free
In humility, to take the vow
That day after day we must take up the basin
That day after day we must take up the basin
That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel
Take up the basin and the towel, basin and towel
Video
The Basin And The Towel
Meaning & Inspiration
Michael Card’s profound offering, “The Basin and the Towel,” first made its appearance as part of *The Ultimate Collection: Michael Card*, released on 2006-01-01. This song does not merely recount a historical event; it dives deep into one of the most transformative acts of servanthood ever witnessed, inviting us to not just observe but to participate in its ongoing revelation. The narrative centers on the powerful biblical moment when Jesus, amidst His disciples' bickering about who was greatest, quietly rose to perform the task of a common servant: washing their feet. This scene, so vividly described in John 13, serves as the song's foundation, illustrating Christ's radical redefinition of leadership and power through humble service.
The song immediately places us "In an upstairs room," where a critical "parable is just about to come alive." We witness the stark contrast between the disciples' preoccupation with their own status—their arguments about "who's best"—and Jesus’ quiet, profound response. The lyrical observation of His "painful glance" before He "silently rise[s]" is deeply moving, capturing the heart of a Savior who understood their human frailties yet chose to demonstrate love and truth rather than rebuke. This setup beautifully echoes the often-recounted scene in Luke 22:24-27, where Jesus directly confronts their dispute over greatness, asserting that true leadership in His kingdom is about serving others, not being served.
The core message crystallizes with the powerful lines, "Their Savior Servant must show them how / Through the will of the water / And the tenderness of the towel." Here, Card encapsulates the essence of Christ's example. He wasn't just a King, but a "Savior Servant," embodying the paradoxical truth that salvation comes through self-emptying love. The "will of the water" suggests a cleansing, a purification, and a humble submission to the task, while the "tenderness of the towel" speaks to the gentle, intimate, and loving care involved in true service. This reflects the profound theological concept of kenosis, described in Philippians 2:5-8, where Christ "made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant," humbling Himself even to death on a cross.
The song then broadens its scope, extending the call to every follower, declaring that "the call is to community / The impoverished power that sets the soul free / In humility, to take the vow / That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel." This "impoverished power" is perhaps the most striking phrase in the song. It speaks to the counter-intuitive strength found not in dominance or worldly acclaim, but in vulnerability, surrender, and self-sacrificial love. This is the power that truly liberates the human spirit, echoing Jesus' teaching in Mark 10:43-45 that whoever wishes to be great must be a servant to all, giving his life as a ransom. The act of "taking the vow" emphasizes a deliberate, ongoing commitment, not a one-time deed, to live out this principle in the fabric of everyday life.
Card emphasizes the universal applicability of this profound lesson, noting that "In any ordinary place / On any ordinary day / The parable can live again." This reminds us that Christ's example is not confined to sacred texts or ancient history; it is a living principle meant to be embodied in our present reality. It requires "one will kneel and one will yield," signifying both the active humility of the servant and the receptive, perhaps sometimes uncomfortable, humility of the one being served. This mutual act creates a space for grace and connection, fulfilling the command to "serve one another humbly in love" as found in Galatians 5:13.
The song's bridge beautifully articulates the human condition, acknowledging that "The space between ourselves sometimes / Is more than the distance between the stars." This imagery vividly portrays the deep divisions, misunderstandings, and hurts that can separate individuals. Yet, the lyrics offer hope: "By the fragile bridge of the Servant's bow / We take up the basin and the towel." The "Servant's bow" is a poetic nod to the posture of humility and submission, suggesting that it is through these acts of humble service that seemingly insurmountable gaps are bridged, fostering reconciliation and true fellowship. This echoes the biblical mandate to be humble toward one another (1 Peter 5:5) and to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). The repeated refrain in the closing sections—"That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel"—serves as a compelling and urgent reminder that this call to community and humble service is not optional or occasional, but a continuous, daily commitment for those who follow the Savior Servant. It is a profound, life-altering commitment to reflect Christ's love in a world desperate for genuine connection and selfless devotion.