What Quality Of Love Is This

British Methodist pastor Gareth Hill sends this new hymn for Maundy Thursday. He writes the following about composing the text:

I spent the weekend at Cliff College, a Methodist college in the Derbyshire Peak District, which has trained many evangelists over the years. During the time I was there, I was struck by the way that Jesus had washed Judas Iscariot's feet with the other disciples even though, John says, he already knew who was to betray him. It follows that although Jesus knows all the ways in which I can let him down, he still chooses to identify with me in both service and suffering.

Meter: LMD, 88.88.88.88
There are four tunes in the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal in this meter. Another option would be to use one of the many LM tunes, repeating the music once for each stanza of text.

What quality of love is this
that washes a betrayer's feet?
What kind of majesty, a king
who kneels before a friend's deceit?
It is a love for those, like me
who know of grace but choose to sin;
a love that waits until I must
return to Calvary again.

What quality of ruler, this
who lays aside his royal right?
What kind of power which takes a towel
and stoops to lift our blinkered sight?
This is the ruler of all realms
and yet the one who calls me friend;
the one who, knowing what would come,
still chose to love me to the end.

What quality of Saviour comes
to bring salvation by his death?
What kind of battle-plan to hang
forsaken, beaten and bereft?
This is the Saviour who, for me,
endured the cross with all its shame;
who, dying for a world, can still
remember and call out my name.

Rev. Gareth Hill is a Methodist Minister in Wadebridge, North Cornwall, Cornwall District. His photo, biography, contact information and links to additional songs and choral music are available on the Discipleship Ministries website.

Copyright © 2004 by Gareth Hill. Permission is granted to local congregations to download, reproduce, and use this hymn in worship with the inclusion of this complete notice. It may not be reproduced for profit or republished. It may not be reproduced on another website, although other websites are welcome to link to it.