Christian prayers for Good Friday give you words to bring to God on the day the church remembers the crucifixion of Jesus. They are best prayed on Good Friday itself, in the morning, at noon when the Gospels say darkness fell, or in the afternoon when Jesus is said to have died. You can read the prayer below aloud as written, or use it as a starting point and speak in your own words.
Christian Prayers for Good Friday
Lord Jesus, today I come to the cross, and I do not want to rush past it. You were betrayed, mocked, beaten and nailed to a tree for sins that were never yours. Help me to see clearly what it cost you, and to stop pretending my own failures are small. Forgive me for the times I have turned away, for the words I wish I could take back, and for the parts of my heart I have kept from you.
I also bring to you the people who are grieving today, the ones who sit with an empty chair or a hospital bill or a silence that will not lift. Be near to them. Let them know that you know what it is to be abandoned and to cry out, and that the cry was heard. Steady the anxious, comfort the lonely, and give rest to those who have no strength left to pray for themselves.
Thank you that this day is not the end of the story. Hold my hope steady while I wait for Sunday, and teach me to trust your love even when I cannot yet see how it will turn out. Be glorified through this sorrow, and draw me closer to you. Amen.
A Shorter Version to Pray in a Moment
Jesus, you died for me today, and I am sorry for what it cost you. Thank you for loving me to the very end. Be with the people I am worried about, and give me the courage to trust you in whatever comes next. Help me to remember that the grave did not hold you, and that you have not forgotten me. Amen.
Scriptures to Pray Alongside
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.
(WEB)
Pray this verse by naming the wounds you carry and the wounds you are praying for others to be healed from. Thank God that the suffering described here was taken on so that peace could come.
John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.
(WEB)
Read this slowly and pause on the word “finished.” Pray that the work of Christ would sink deep enough to quiet the striving in your own heart today.
Luke 23:34
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
(WEB)
Let this verse become a prayer for anyone who has hurt you. Ask Jesus to give you the grace to forgive as he forgave, even when forgiveness feels impossible.
Romans 5:8
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(WEB)
Pray this when you feel you are not worth loving. Thank God that his love was shown while you were still far from him, and ask him to help you receive it today.
Psalm 22:1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
(WEB)
This is the cry of Jesus on the cross, and it gives you permission to be honest with God. Bring him your questions and your pain without hiding them, trusting that he can hear them.
How to Pray This Prayer
Many Christians pray this prayer in the early afternoon, when the church traditionally marks the hours Jesus hung on the cross. Find a quiet corner, even if it is just a chair by a window or a car parked for ten minutes. Keep a plain wooden cross, a Bible or a candle nearby so your eyes have something to rest on while you speak.
You might also pray it with someone else. Read the longer prayer aloud, one paragraph each, or invite a family member or friend to pray the shorter version with you. If you have a few minutes with your hands free, you could slowly fold a paper cross or light a single candle as you finish, letting the small action mark the end of your time with God.
A Blessing to Close
May the one who gave himself for you on the cross hold you close today and tomorrow. May his peace settle over the places where you are weary, and may his love remind you that nothing you carry is too heavy for him. Go in the grace of the Lord who died and is alive, and rest in the hope that Sunday is coming.
