10 Inspiring Good Friday Hymns and Worship Songs

The Power of the Cross

As Jesus poured out the wine and broke the bread with his disciples during The Last Supper, He gave them—and all Believers—a visual display of His impending sacrifice.

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28)

Matthew and Mark’s Gospels tell us after their meal Jesus and the disciples sang a “hymn.” While scripture doesn’t give us the title of this hymn, Jewish tradition reveals that the Passover meal was typically concluded by singing the last portion of the Hallel. This celebratory song, comprised of Psalm 115-118, rejoiced in God’s deliverance and pointed to a time of future salvation through the Messiah.

The fact that Jesus and His disciples sang this song is incredible in light of Psalm 118, which prophetically describes events that were taking place in their midst and would soon be accomplished through the power of the cross. 

Jesus took our blame and bore the wrath we deserved. His shed blood and broken body became our salvation. “What a love. What a cost. We stand forgiven at the cross.”

11-year-old Molly Rae offers this incredibly moving rendition of Stuart Townsend & Keith Getty’s The Power of the Cross (Copyright © 2005).

11 year old sings Keith & Kristyn Getty's  from godgiftedchild on GodTube.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Mizina

Gethsemane

Immediately following The Last Supper, Jesus took His disciples into a grove of ancient olive trees, called the Garden of Gethsemane. There, He separated Himself, Peter, James, and John from the group and asked the three disciples to watch and pray. (Matthew 26:41) Twice, Jesus had to wake them and remind them to pray so that they would not fall into temptation. Not able to keep their eyes open, the three men failed our Lord at the hour He needed them most. 

Filled with anguish and sorrow, Jesus moved away from the men and cried out to God. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36) Knowing the depth of our sin and our complete unworthiness, Jesus still chose to give Himself to the Father’s will out of selfless love for us. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16)

The song, Gethsemane, was written by Roger and Melanie Hoffman and is sung in this 2016 video by three-year-old Claire Ryann Crosby.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/salajean 

Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

After Judas betrayed Jesus in the garden, our Lord was arrested and began a pre-ordained journey of sorrow that would take Him to Calvary. God sent His own Son, who knew no sin, to be a sacrifice for our sin. He was wrongfully condemned to death by the mocking crowds and religious leaders. He was abandoned by his disciples, beaten, tortured, stripped naked, and given a crown of thorns. All for us. 

“Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—” (Isaiah 52:14)

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5)

“Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.” (John 19:1-3)

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning, was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning, foes insulting His distress
Many hands were raised to wound Him, none would interpose to save
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him, was the stroke that Justice gave

Thomas Kelly wrote Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted in 1804. Performed by Fernando Ortega. 

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Javier_Art_Photography

There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood

Ever since Adam and Eve first sinned in Eden, blood has been an essential part of God’s redemption plan. 

“There is often a silence about the blood of Christ, even in fundamental circles. As long as the blood of our Lord coursed through His veins, it had no saving value for us; but when that precious blood was shed, Christ Jesus gave His life. The life of the flesh is in the blood. He shed that blood that you and I might have life.” –Dr. J. Vernon McGee

Jesus’s blood drained from His body all the way to Calvary (Luke 22:44, Matthew 27:26-29) There, He was nailed to the cross and poured Himself completely out as a love offering for humanity. Jesus’s blood had the power to redeem us, bring us back into fellowship with God, and overcome Satan’s dominion. 

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

The blood that flowed from Christ’s veins is a fountain of hope for all who Believe in Him: “The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; and there may [we], though vile as he, wash all [our] sins away.”

William Cowper wrote There is a Fountain Filled with Blood in 1771.

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:

There is a Fountain Filled with Blood from soundingjoy on GodTube.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/g215

True Love

Just before Christ died on the cross, He uttered the phrase, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) This phrase is the translation of the Greek word tetelestai (sometimes listed as teleo in concordances). 

Every Jewish person who witnessed the crucifixion would have recognized Christ’s last word as the equivalent of a Hebrew phrase used in the Old Testament system of sacrifice. As part of that system, all of Israel’s sins were symbolically placed upon a sacrificial lamb that would be slain by the priest. After the priest had killed the animal, he would declare to the crowd, “it is finished.” This temporary measure was the only remedy to atone for sin. 

With Christ’s final word and His final breath, Jesus completed the last sacrifice ever required for sin. And He brought about the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies, symbols, and shadows about Himself. At that moment the temple curtain, which had forever separated sinful man from the Holy of Holies, was torn in two from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:50-51) No longer would sin create a wall between us and God.  

“Therefore brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22

 The finished work of Jesus has removed every barrier between us and God. Through Him we can now come boldly to the throne of grace to receive God’s mercy. 

This incredibly powerful worship video is directed by Dan Stevers, and features the song True Love by Phil Wickham. 

Dan Stevers - True Love (The Wall) - Phil Wickham from dan_stevers on GodTube.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/ksenija18kz

In Christ Alone

Christ’s blood not only tore down the walls that separated mankind from God, but it also granted us a brand new relationship with God—as His children. When we receive Christ, we’re sealed with His Holy Spirit as a guarantee that we will be His, and He will be ours, forever. 

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 12:11-14)

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Rom. 8:15–16)

Nothing will ever be able to separate us from God again—not death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities or things in the past, present, or future—nothing! (Romans 8:38-39, John 10:28) 

In Christ Alone was written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (copyright © 2005) and is performed in this video by Lauren Daigle.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Death Was Arrested

Jesus came to rescue a world condemned to death. He became flesh so that “by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)

In Him we are no longer a slave to fear and death. The resurrected Christ has arrested death and arose with freedom in His hand so that we could live brand new lives in Him forever.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:4-5)

“Without the pain and reality of the cross, without the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, without the miracle of the resurrection and his final victory over sin and death, we would still be bound and without hope. He conquered what we could never defeat on our own. There is truly no greater gift!”

North Point's band InsideOut wrote and first recorded Death Was Arrested in early 2015. This video performance features Aaron Shust. 

Aaron Shust - Death Was Arrested from aaron-shust on GodTube.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Annie Spratt

Then Came the Morning

The Sunday morning after His death, the women who had dearly loved Jesus, prepared spices for His broken body. Heavy with grief they approached the tomb only to find that the stone had been rolled away. When they entered the dark cavern, they discovered His body was not there. Suddenly, two angels appeared to them and asked, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5)

The women were instructed by the angel to go tell the disciples the news. They hurried away from the empty tomb, elated yet bewildered. Suddenly the resurrected Jesus was there in their midst. “‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:7)

The women immediately obeyed Jesus, but when they attempted to tell the disciples the good news, their flustered words made the report sound like nonsense to the men. John’s Gospel tells us that he and Peter ran for the tomb to see for themselves.

“Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.” (John 4:3-8)

Can you imagine the elation the women and disciples experienced that morning? Their beloved Jesus Had risen, just as He’d said! And He is alive forevermore. 

Then Came the Morning was written by Chris Christian and Bill & Gloria Gaither and performed in this video by Guy Penrod. 

Guy Penrod - Then Came the Morning (Live) from guy-penrod on GodTube.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/doulos

Before the Throne of God Above

Jesus spent forty days on earth after His resurrection. For over a month those who loved Him sat at His nail scarred feet, worshiped Him, and gladly received the great commission. Then, Jesus blessed them and was “taken up to Heaven.” (Luke 24:51)

“At the Ascension Jesus moved from visible realm to the invisible realm, but the Ascension of Jesus isn’t just the story of how our Lord ‘went away’ between the Resurrection and the Second Coming. He did not become inactive. Right now, God is moving history along, so that all things are ultimately placed under the feet of Jesus, as creation’s rightful ruler.” (1 Cor. 15:24-25). Part of that task involves His role as our advocate.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1)

Because of the work He did on the Cross, Jesus now stands before the Father pleading our case and interceding for us. Unlike an earthly defense attorney, He doesn’t need to advocate for us with persuasive words or crafty manipulation tactics. The case was settled the moment Christ died as our ransom. (Romans 8:1-4) His righteousness became ours. Our sinful souls are counted free because God looks upon Jesus’s sacrifice and pardons us. 

Before the Throne of God Above is a Christian hymn written by Charitie Lees Smith in 1863. Over a century later, Vikki Cook, a composer for Sovereign Grace Music, decided to write an original melody to pair with the hymn. This lovely video rendition was recorded by Brackin and Lindsay Kirkland’s group, Sounds Like Reign. 

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/TonyLomas

Heaven's Song

Our Savior’s sinless life, agonizing death, and triumphant resurrection is to be celebrated—not just on Good Friday, Easter, and every other day of a Believer’s life—but for eternity. 

The Lamb of God purchased us with His own blood, and one day all who have placed their trust in Him will gather around His throne in worship and adoration. The meager remembrances we celebrate on earth will be nothing compared to that day when we’re reunited with the One who gave us life. And in Heaven, songs will still be used to honor and commemorate Christ’s work on the cross. Together, we will sing a “new song.”

“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:9-13)

Heaven’s Song was written and performed by Gateway Worship.

Gateway Worship - Heaven's Song (Live 2008) from lumel on GodTube.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Ig0rZh