Scripture Verse

They clothed Him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about His head, and began to salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews! Mark 15:17

Introduction

Words: Ti­mo­thy Dud­ley-Smith, 1968.

Music: St. Mat­thew Will­iam Croft, 1708 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926–)

Lyrics

illustration
Jesus Mocked by Soldiers
William Brassey Hole (1846–1917)

A pur­ple robe, a crown of thorn,
A reed in His right hand;
Before the sold­iers’ spite and scorn
I see my Sav­ior stand.
He bears be­tween the R­oman guard
The weight of all our woe;
A stum­bling fig­ure, bowed and scarred,
I see my Sav­ior go.

The fol­low­ing verse fits with on­ly with Com­mon Meter tunes:

Fast to the cross’ spread­ing span,
High in the sun­lit air,
All the un­num­bered sins of man
I see my Sav­iour bear.

He hangs, by whom the world was made,
Beneath the dark­ened sky;
The ev­er­last­ing ran­som paid,
I see my Sav­ior die.
He shares on high His Fa­ther’s throne,
Who once in mer­cy came;
For all His love to sin­ners shown
I sing my Sav­ior’s Name.