None of the drama in his accusation, betrayal and crucifixion was a surprise to Jesus.
Many times, prior to his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples that he was going to be arrested, beaten, crucified. He also said that three days after being buried he would come back to life. All that Jesus claimed about his deity would be proved by physically coming back to life.
The soldiers took Jesus, created a wreath of long thorns and pressed it into Jesus head as a mock crown and beat him.
Then they flogged Jesus with the cat-o-nine-tails, a whip with multiple bone- or metal-tipped ends. Forty lashes were often enough to kill a person.
They nailed Jesus wrists and feet to a cross where he hung and died of slow suffocation and heart failure. A spear was thrust into his side to confirm his death.
Jesus’ death on the cross was not merely the natural consequences of his miracles and his statements. He was not at their mercy.
Jesus had already proved he had absolute power over nature, disease, even death. He healed so many people, even bringing people back to life. In light of that, Jesus could have stepped off the cross at any moment.
This was the equivalent of someone bending over and putting their head under water, and choosing to deliberately drown when they had the power to raise their head at any moment. Jesus chose to die.
Prior to his arrest, Jesus said, “No one takes my life from me. I lay it down of my own choosing.” He did so purposefully. It was planned, and in other words, intentional.
