The crucifixion of Jesus was more than just another death at the hands of the Romans. It was more than martyrdom. It was more than another innocent man unjustly condemned and executed. He was punished in our place, forsaken for our transgressions, and laid His life down as an atonement for our sins.
Cyprian, the bishop of Carthage, said,
"The Lord was forsaken, that we might not be forsaken; He was forsaken that we might be delivered from our sins and from eternal death; He was forsaken that we might show His love to us, and manifest to us His justice and His pity; that He might attract to Himself our love, in short that He might exhibit to us a pattern of patience."