One of my parents is essentially Christian, and I received some "Religious Education" at school, so I should be able to remember the stories attached to Easter. Jesus died on the cross in agony like a mortal man, I'm confident of that much. I'm pretty sure that he had a direct line to his dad and could have just said "bugger this" and gone home, calling forth terrible retribution if he'd felt like it. Where I get hazy is his motivation. It was either to atone for the sins of all mankind, or so that the people of Europe would get a four day weekend, and cinnamon-spiced fruit buns for breakfast.
Important further reading:
jesus
sins
buns
Richard "theology B