The cross represents God's intentional plan for redemption, not a tragic accident. Jesus came to earth specifically to fulfill the Father's will through His sacrificial death. This divine plan, prophesied centuries before in Isaiah 53, involved Christ bearing our griefs, sorrows, and sins. Through His deliberate descent into death, Jesus made possible our ascent to life, establishing a new covenant of peace between God and humanity. This profound act of love offers salvation through simple belief in Christ's finished work.