Why did Jesus have to Suffer?

I was listening to Mike Patz from First Assembly of God in Gainesville answer questions.  Although I am still watching, I had to pause and write a post because one particular answer was brilliant.

The question was one that I wondered my several times:  "Why did Jesus have to suffer before he died?" Why couldn't he just be shot, or drown, or have a quick death to quickly die.

In Matthew 16, Luke 22 and Mark 8, Jesus tells his disciples that he must suffer many things before he is killed.  The basic reasoning behind the need for suffering, as explain by Mike is that suffering is a requirement for forgiveness.  For example, when someone takes something that you value and destroys it; even though you forgive them, you suffer because you no longer have that item of value.  

As another example, imagine a rape victim who is able to forgive her assailant.  Because she forgave, she must absorb a lot of suffering incurred through the calamity.

In the same way, in order for Jesus to truly forgive the sins of the world, the very nature of forgiveness required an element suffering.  Because he suffered "many things" we can be sure that He was really forgiving us.  And because he died we know that are sins are really paid for, because the bible says that the "Wages of sin is death".

The more I understand the testimony of Jesus, the more I love him.

* You can watch the rest of the sermon on the church's media website.