Christ died because he would die; other men admitted to the dignity of martyrdom are willing to die, but they die by the torments of the executioners; they cannot bid their souls go out and say, "Now I will die." And this was Christ's case: It was not only, "I lay down my life for my sheep" (John 10:15), but he says also, "No man can take away my soul; and I have power to lay it down." And, de facto, he did lay it down—he did die before the torments could have extorted his soul from him.

Many crucified men lived many days upon the cross. The thieves were alive long after Christ was dead, and therefore Pilate wondered that he was already dead (Mark 15:44). His soul did not leave his body by force, but because he would, and when he would, and how he would…. Christ did not die naturally, nor violently, as all others do, but only voluntarily.