What would have happened if Jesus was not tortured on a cross? Would you still folow his teachings? If he died of natural causes, would you still feel that he had sacrificed his life for others? Would there still be the idea of salvation? Why is there so much emphasis in Christianity on the suffering that Jesus went through?

Of all the major religions, I find Christianity to be the most confusing, particularly this aspect of it. Any light that you could shed on this would be appreciated.

Request: Please, whether you are a believer or not, do not turn this into a discussion of the comparative merits of Christianity or of belief versus non-belief. I am myself a non-believer and am simply asking for some information.