Jesus had to die on the cross to satisfy the law - that sin be paid for by death.

The cross was the chosen instrument for the death of Jesus because this was the form of death inflicted on criminals and ordered by the Romans who governed Jerusalem at this time. It was the most grueling kind of death a person could face. The word "excruciating" is rooted in the word "crucifixion". It was perhaps the most excruciating form of death to exist. And yet Jesus died willingly for us--so that we could know Him and have eternal life.

Jesus died on the cross to fulfill prophesy. The death of Jesus upon the cross was prophesied in several places in the Old Testament Bible, including in Isaiah 53 and also in Psalm 22.

Read about the crucifixion here.

Read more Scriptures showing why Jesus had to die here.  

If Jesus had not died on the cross for us, we could not be saved. He died on the cross willingly because He loved us and wanted to make a way for us to spend eternity with Him.

Jesus could have prevented Himself from being crucified since He was (and still is) God. Jesus said: "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)

Jesus chose not to save Himself.  He went to His crucifixion willingly to be killed like a lamb going to slaughter. He did this because, as we learn in John`s Gospel chapter 3, verse 16, He loved us: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes on Him would not perish but have eternal life."  And God still loves us today.

Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our wrongdoings. If He had not died, He could not have paid for our wrongdoings (our sins). Therefore, He chose to die so that we could be saved by believing on Him.