Scripture Verse

Pilate said to them, Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah? All of them said, Let Him be crucified! Matthew 27:22

Introduction

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Horatius Bonar
1808–1889

Words: Ho­ra­ti­us Bo­nar, Hymns of Faith and Hope (Lon­don: James Nis­bet, 1857), pag­es 207–08.

Music: De­witt Uz­zi­ah C. Bur­nap, 1870 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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Uzziah C. Burnap
1834–1900

Lyrics

I see the crowd in Pilate’s hall,
I mark their wrathful mien;
Their shouts of crucify appall,
With blasphemy between.

And of that shouting multitude
I feel that I am one;
And in that din of voices rude,
I recognize my own.

I see the scourges tear His back,
I see the piercing crown,
And of that crowd who smite and mock,
I feel that I am one.

Around yon cross, the throng I see,
Mocking the sufferer’s groan,
Yet still my voice it seems to be—
As if I mocked alone.

’Twas I that shed the sacred blood,
I nailed Him to the tree,
I crucified the Christ of God,
I joined the mockery.

Yet not the less that blood avails,
To cleanse away my sin,
And not the less that cross prevails
To give me peace within.