A historian might answer differently, arguing that his death was the result of a combined effort of the Roman and Jewish authorities to bring to an end his radical, revolutionary but increasingly popular ideology and teaching. Again, they would be right - Jesus was certainly seen as a political threat by many of the leaders and officials of his day, and it was through their combined efforts that he was eventually condemned to death.
But if Jesus was who he said he was - God in human form, able to calm raging storms, heal the sick and raise the dead, then there can only be one overriding reason for his death - he allowed it to happen. Not only that, but Jesus spoke regularly about his forthcoming death in the months and years leading up to it - he embarked on his ministry knowing what the eventual outcome would be.
Many of the Scriptures that speak of the death of Jesus were actually written hundreds of years before the event. Looking back, Christians came to realise that God had been speaking of this throughout history, it was a crucial element in his plan to bring salvation to humanity.
This is what gives the cross such significance - it was no unforseen error or unfortunate accident, it was God's will.