God's Delays Are Your Deliverance
Timothy Paul Jones
25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
Mark 15:25-41
God's delays are not disasters. They are His design for your deliverance.
Main Question: Why did Jesus suffer for hours on the cross? What was God waiting for?
- Truth Revealed in the Waiting
- Jesus fulfills Psalm 22 (pierced hands/feet, divided garments)
- The waiting reveals prophecy being fulfilled
- Shame Redeemed in the Waiting
- Jesus is mocked, stripped, and publicly humiliated.
- He enters into the shame of humanity—especially those who’ve experienced trauma.
- Like Felicity (203 AD), we suffer with one who has suffered for us.
- Witness That Reaches Beyond the Waiting
- The Roman centurion confesses Jesus as the Son of God.
- Women witness Jesus’ death—preparing them to witness his resurrection.
- Waiting produces lasting, powerful testimony.