Why did Jesus have to die?

We all feel warm and fuzzy inside when we picture the birth of a baby even of a birth in a feeding trough, the only room available. We marvel at the many miracles performed by this man named Jesus, but do we reflect on the time of his betrayal, his trumped up charges and his cruel beating. All of these precede the cross. What if the cup did pass his lips as he pleads in Matthew? What if he treated us like we have treated Him? Imagine if something you loved and created would betray, deny, mock and ridicule you daily. Would you be willing to die a cruel inhumane death for them? Jesus did!