Why didn't Christ strike down the Roman soldiers and Jewish priests instead of going to the cross?
Christ did not strike down the Roman soldiers and Jewish priests because He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Though He could have destroyed them with a spoken word, He knew this was the will of the Father, of the Godhead He Himself was part.
Les explains that Christ could have "zapped the whole thing." He could have stricken every Roman soldier and every Jewish priest and high priest in Jerusalem with a spoken word. But He did not, because He was obedient, knowing this was the will of the Father, of course, the Godhead of which He Himself was now a part. The context from Philippians shows He made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the worst death ever dreamed up by mankind, the death of the cross.
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.