Good Friday 2017: Bible Verses, Passages, & Readings

On this day Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Calvary. Find inspirational Bible quotes here for study on this holy time before Easter. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, or Black Friday and comes the Friday before Easter. The date of Easter is always the first Sunday after the full moon following a spring equinox. This year, Easter is on Sunday, April 16. Good Friday comes after Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples where he washed their feet. Both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are held on our around the week-long Jewish festival of Passover. In three out of the four canonical gospels, (Matthew, Mark and Luke), it is written that Jesus' Last Supper occurred "on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb," according to Mark 14:12. The Festival of Unleavened Bread is also known as Passover. Passover is a week-long Jewish festival that commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites by God from slavery in ancient Egypt. The story of the Exodus is described in the Hebrew Bible, especially in the Book of Exodus. In the Book of Exodus, Moses leads the Israelites across the Red Sea and through the deserts to Mount Sinai, where God promises them the land of Canaan as thanks for their faithfulness. There are many similarities between the stories of Moses and Jesus. Learn more about the history and origins of Good Friday along with these inspirational Bible verses.

People perform the crucifixion during a rehearsal of the reenactment of Christ's suffering on March 24, 2016 in Hiendelaencina, Spain. Since 1972, the 140 village's residents celebrate every year on Good Friday a reenactment of Christ's suffering before being nailed to the cross. (David Ramos/Getty Images)