I think he did by provoking the authorities with the intention to purposely die.
Jesus Christ: Suicide By Cop
If not, then why wasn't it an act of suicide?
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death.
Did Jesus intentionally caused his own death? Let us examine the facts and circumstances:
The Lord Jesus was already foretold in the Old Testament Books many times and his fate prophesied:
Genesis 3:14-15 New International Version (NIV)
So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
After the banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, the Lord God have promised Eve's offspring will be the enemy of the serpent's [devil's] descendants. In this prophecy, Eve's offspring will be victorious but the serpent would be able inflict some injury.
- "he will crush you head and you will strike his heel."
6th century BC
And this was expressly declared by the Lord Jesus in:
John 8:40-45 New International Version (NIV)
As it is,
you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
The Lord Jesus Christ knew that he was the prophesied Messiah.
He knows his ultimate fate.
That is why when this fate drew near, he prayed to God about the possibility of avoiding this bloody fate.
He ask this twice.
Matthew 26:38-43 New International Version (NIV)
Then he said to them, “
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, “
My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
He pleaded to God
He was extremely sad
He knew the pain that he will undergo
He prayed to God, the possibility of removing this suffering that he will have to face
But he was obedient even to the point of death.
Did Jesus provoked the authorities with the intention to purposely die - suicide by cop?
No.
His fate is already prophesied - Jesus knew about this all along
He prayed on the possibility of this being avoided
But Jesus chose to be obedient to God.
Philippians 2:8 New International Version (NIV)
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
.....Luke 23:26-49