It was written in 1887 by W J Sparrow Simpson intended as the closing chorus of John Stainer's The Crucifixion oratorio.

[2] It was written as a "meditation on the Passion of the Holy Redeemer" with scriptural references from the New Testament.

[1] The hymn was intended as a closing chorus and, according to Reynolds, also to be a part of The Crucifixion set aside for congregational singing.

[4] The hymn was first performed in public at St Marylebone Parish Church on Ash Wednesday in 1887.

[2] After its first performance, "The Crucifixion" was praised in The Churchman as being "...a first and a very successful attempt to supply an easy and short form of Passion music suitable for use in ordinary parish churches,"[5] though Stainer had previously described it as "rubbish".