Was God under obligation to send Jesus to the cross?

God was not under obligation to save sinners; he could have given all the just deserts of sin. But once God in grace chose to provide salvation from sin, he could only accomplish this purpose through the death of his own Son. It was impossible for even God to save sinners apart from vicarious sacrifice once the decision was made to save sinners. In answer to Jesus poignant plea (Matt 26:38, 39), there was no other way to save sinners. God’s holy character would have been satisfied with nothing less than the death of his Son.