1 What shall I do with Jesus?
He stands before me now,
Wearing the robe of purple,
And thorns upon His brow.
Refrain:
This is the question now;
What shall the answer be?
Shall I crucify King Jesus,
And set Barabbas free?
2 Shall I release the robber,
The carnal man of pride?
Sin or a sinless Saviour?--
O which shall be denied?
Refrain:
This is the question now;
What shall the answer be?
Shall I crucify King Jesus,
And set Barabbas free?
3 Solemn and awful question!
How still the balance stands!
Mercy a moment lingers,
It trembles in her hands.
Refrain:
This is the question now;
What shall the answer be?
Shall I crucify King Jesus,
And set Barabbas free?
4 Self on the seat of judgment,
Dare you the world deny?
Louder and louder calling,
"Away!" and "Crucify!"
Refrain:
This is the question now;
What shall the answer be?
Shall I crucify King Jesus,
And set Barabbas free?
5 Not to the sinner only,
The question comes with pow'r;
Hear it, ye halting Christians,
In ev'ry trial hour.
Refrain:
This is the question now;
What shall the answer be?
I will crucify Barabbas,
And set King Jesus free.
Source: Christ in Song: for all religious services nearly one thousand best gospel hymns, new and old with responsive scripture readings (Rev. and Enl.) #1
Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evangelist Billy Sunday. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >
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