He is God, afterall. Yes, he might have saved himself. . . Death to the entire self sickened by sin. Death, the end result of sin. And Jesus chose to die because that is what love does.
Fear reacts with self-preserving instinct.
Fear draws the sword to fight. Fear causes people to deny they know others who stand accused. Fear believes the worst at an empty tomb. Love chooses what seems to be foolish. Love chooses what one would normally avoid at all cost.