Why is this a "Good" Friday?

It should have been me
With the nails through my hands and feet
Facing the wrath of God
It should have been me
Left to pay for my sin forsaken
But in the blood I stand here
It should have been me
Born to die
He bore the fire of God's holy wrath on his shoulders

What a stage set up in this song by the band For Today. Called 'Crown of Thorns' it describes the incredibly painful act of love that Christ endured for the sake of sinners. Which means everyone. All of us. I'm sure everyone, regardless of their belief, knows what John 3:16 is. But let the reality of that sink in for a minute. Christ, the Lord, died the worst most painful death, for people He never met in person, for people who hated Him, who ridiculed Him. People who were yet to be born, and those who died before He was.
How truly, is this a 'good' Friday?
A man whom is innocent, declared guilty in an illegal trial in the middle of the night, condemned to die, and murdered while a gaggle of spectators cheered on each strike of the hammer. Each strike, which pushed a nail hrough flesh and muscle and tendons, clear through the other side. His legs, broken. His back scourged to the point of exposing inner organs and then after being nailed onto that wood, stained with the blood from its previous host, hoisted upwards, with a slamming thud into the ground. Each breathe forced out and finally after 6 hours, He dies, crying out "My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
He then releases His spirit, and then literally all Hell breaks loose.:  
'At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.  They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.'  Matthew 27:51-53

All of this happened for one reason.
Love.
Love held this man to the cross not nals. He was murderd by man for the saving of man.
So, what makes this a Good Friday? Because that is not the end of the story. Three days pass.
Then He was resurrected.
He got back up.
Death. Died.
No longer do we have to fear death. Its sting is removed (1st Corinthians 15:55) because Jesus didn't stay dead. He got back up, and we have the hope in that happening to us (Hebrews 6:19) that when we die, we too, will rise. We will get out of our coffins, and join our King.  Death has died, and love has won.  That  is why it is "good". If this had not happened we would never be reconciled to God, for we are all fallen and sinful beings by default. Not one person one their best day can stand before the Holy Lord, for even our best is but trash to Him (Isaiah 64:6) so that is why we needed a mediator, one who took it for us. Thaty is why Christ came, to become that which seperated us and kept us from God, so that we could be seen as righteous and holy before Him.
Because of His love, we now can called sons and daughters , as long as we do one thing:
Love Him back.
When someone accepts Christ, and truly repents and lives for His glory, they are transformed into a new person, and the whole mission of God is nothing more: To see those who are in sin to become one with Him.. If you think you can walk with Christ and not live differently than you did before meeting Him you have not met Him. Not that it will be easy but the reward is so much greater than the cost. This weekedn is the biggest deal, because it is the weekend of Easter, with His death on Friday and resurrection on Sunday. Easter Sunday. Its not about eggs and bunnies. Its about the murdered Son of God who promised us life and life more abundantly
If you are one of those who claim yourselves as atheists, let em tell you something: God is stronger than you. He is stronger than your doubts, your disbelief, He loves you, even if you do not love Him. Charles Spurgeon said "If you reject him, he answers you with tears; if you wound him, he bleeds out cleansing; if you kill him, he dies to redeem; if you bury him, he rises again to bring resurrection. Jesus is love made manifest."  So take it from someone who grew up without Him, and found Him at his lowest point of life:
God loves you, and wants nothing but the best for you.
I am doing this as a direct call of Christ. To spread His message of hope. If you do not know him, and want to know Him all you need to do is ask for Him to fill you with His love. He stands at the door of your heart knocking for He is a gentleman. He doesn't come in without being asked. Consequently, He won't come in without being asked...which means...if you were to die today, without knowing Him, when you stand before Him, and He says to depart from Him, for you denied Him on earth and therefore He is denying you before His father (Matthew 10:33). An eternity of despai all on your own doing. One way or the other you will confess He is Lord do it now, for today is the day of salvation!
If you are religious just remember this...
Religion killed Jesus. He got back up and killed religion.
It is not a religion it is a relationship.
If oyu reading this, felt that tug from God, and want to know Him, click here and then, you too will know why this is, truly, a Good Friday.