Why did Jesus allow people to put Him to death? It seems to me that He could have fled from His enemies and kept on living, but it almost sounds like He deliberately chose to die. And anyway as the Son of God He could have prevented it, couldn't He? I don't understand this. — Mrs. M.K.

Today Christians all over the world will be celebrating what we call "Good Friday"—the day when Jesus Christ was condemned to death by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and put to death on a cross almost 2,000 years ago.

Why do we call it Good Friday, in spite of the tragedy and horror of that dark day? The reason, I believe, will help you discover the answer to your question. We call it Good Friday for one reason: By His death on the cross, Jesus Christ opened the door to heaven for us—a door that would otherwise be closed. He did this by taking all our sins upon Himself, and becoming the final and complete sacrifice for our sins.

You are right: Jesus could have escaped—but if He had done this, heaven's door would have remained closed, and we would be forever lost. But He didn't escape! He deliberately chose to go to the cross, because He knew that only in this way could we be saved. This is why the Bible says that "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

May this be your "Good Friday," as you open your heart to Christ and trust Him alone for your salvation. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).