"Good" Friday

I often wonder if this is a contradictory statement.
Really, what can be good about today. Our Lord gets hung on a cross after getting beaten for hours, spit at, hit by rocks, beaten at the hands of ruthless Roman guards. I mean REALLY how can this be "GOOD"???
I will tell you how, today Jesus lets us really see for the first time how much He loves us. This is the beginning of the greatest time in the world's history! Nothing will compare to this day... except His return. That's why this is GOOD Friday.
I know that if your understanding of Christianity is just beginning or if you are coming into a true understanding of Christianity from another religious belief this might be hard to understand. Try to think of it this way.
For those of us who have children, we try to teach our kids right and wrong. We would prefer that they listen to us instead of going and making the mistakes and having to suffer the results of their mistakes or bad judgements right? Well Jesus took that concept to the extreme. He loves us so much that he took the worst result of sin, death, for us BEFORE we even sinned to cover us against the result of sin.
It is impossible to understand that kind of love. That is because that kind of love can only come from our Lord. We can't return it in the same way it is given. We can only humbly accept it and to the best of our abilities, give the love we recieved to someone else. Today is a GREAT day, today Jesus started the process of total and complete surrender and His Battle over hatred, evil and death.
As you pray tonight, forgive someone who you have been holding bitterness for. Pray for someone that is against you. Pray for someone to come to a relationship with Christ.
I wish all of you a happy Easter weekend and may your time with family and friends be blessed.