Cross as forgiving: Tim Keller agrees

Looks like I'm not the only one trying to recast the Cross as a forgiving event, Tim Keller seems to be making the same sort of move:
The (True?) Story of the Cross | Musings on Science and Theology:

Forgiveness always requires sacrifice. When we forgive we bear the consequence, the suffering, ourselves rather than demanding retribution. No one “just forgives” any grievous wrong. How much more then for God? God did not, then, inflict pain on someone else, but rather on the Cross absorbed the pain, violence, and evil of the world into himself. This was not just an example, but an ultimate act of forgiveness.

So maybe I'm not saying something too off the wall -perhaps even an idea whose time has come?