Good Friday remembers the day Jesus was crucified. The prophets said He would be "wounded for our transgressions" (Isaiah 53:5); the Gospels record the cross (John 19:16-18; Luke 23:33-34), His cry and death (Matthew 27:45-46; John 19:30), and the early church preached that "Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3). He "bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24).
Good Friday is the darkest day of Holy Week, and also the day Christians call "good" because of what the cross accomplished. These twelve King James passages focus on the crucifixion itself: prophecy, the scene at Golgotha, Jesus' last words, and what His death means. For the empty tomb, see our Easter and resurrection of Jesus pages; for the Lord's Supper that remembers His body and blood, see communion.
Prophecy of the suffering Servant
1. Isaiah 53:3
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
Isaiah pictures the Servant as despised and rejected, a man of sorrows. Good Friday is not only a historical event; it is the fulfillment of a long-promised suffering for others.
2. Isaiah 53:5
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
The heart of the atonement in one verse: wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, chastisement of our peace upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. Our guilt was laid on Him.
3. 1 Corinthians 15:3
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;"
Paul says this is "first of all" in the gospel he received: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Good Friday is not a tragic accident; it is the center of the Christian message.
4. Romans 5:8
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
God's love is measured at the cross: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Good Friday shows love that moved first.
The cross in the Gospels
5. John 19:16-18
"Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst."
Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified. He bore His cross to "the place of a skull," called Golgotha, and was crucified between two others. John's Gospel places the scene with stark simplicity.
6. Luke 23:33-34
"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
At Calvary they crucified Him, and Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Even while nails held Him, mercy was on His lips.
7. Matthew 27:45-46
"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
From the sixth hour to the ninth, darkness covered the land. Jesus cried with a loud voice the words of Psalm 22: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Good Friday includes this depth of abandonment for our sake.
8. John 19:30
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
"It is finished" (Greek tetelestai) is a cry of completion, not defeat. The work of redemption was accomplished. He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.
9. Mark 15:37-39
"And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God."
Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the ghost. The centurion who watched said, "Truly this man was the Son of God." Even a Roman soldier saw what the cross revealed.
What the cross accomplished
10. 1 Peter 2:24
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
Peter explains the cross in personal terms: He bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we might be dead to sins and live unto righteousness. By His stripes ye were healed.
11. Galatians 2:20
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Paul's identity is now cross-shaped: I am crucified with Christ; yet I live, not I, but Christ liveth in me. Good Friday is not only history; it remakes how a believer lives.
12. Hebrews 9:22
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
Without shedding of blood is no remission. The writer ties forgiveness to blood sacrifice, fulfilled once for all in Jesus. Good Friday is the once-for-all offering.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, on the cross You were wounded for my transgressions and finished the work of salvation. Thank You for loving me while I was still a sinner. Help me remember Good Friday with humility and gratitude, and to live as one crucified with You. In Your name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Download our free SOAP study page · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about Good Friday?
The Gospels record Jesus' crucifixion (John 19; Luke 23; Matthew 27; Mark 15). Isaiah 53 foretold a suffering Servant wounded for our transgressions, and the apostles preached that Christ died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24).
Why is Good Friday called "good"?
The day of Jesus' death is "good" because of what it accomplished: forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing through His wounds (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 5:8). The darkness of the cross is the doorway to Easter hope.
What is a good Bible verse for Good Friday?
Isaiah 53:5, John 19:30 ("It is finished"), Romans 5:8, and 1 Peter 2:24 are among the most-used Good Friday readings.
How is Good Friday different from Easter?
Good Friday remembers the crucifixion; Easter celebrates the resurrection. Both belong together: Christ died for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). See our Easter and resurrection of Jesus pages.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about Easter · Bible verses about the resurrection of Jesus · Bible verses about Palm Sunday · Bible verses about communion · Bible verses about salvation
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
