It is most touching and profound for one to sacrifice his life for the one he loves. Even when an individual is aware that he is to give up his life for someone, however, it is no easy task for him to love that someone. In other words, there is a limit to the "love" with which we are familiar.
God was well aware that the sinners would persecute and hold in contempt Jesus, His Only Begotten Son, and eventually execute Him on a cross. Still, He sent Jesus into this world so that the sinners would be delivered from the road to the eternal death.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
~ from Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee's column "The Way" carried on the daily newspaper, The Seoul Newspaper