Dare to Be like the Roman Centurion at the Cross

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Monday, October 19, 2026

Today’s Text: Matthew 27:45–54; Mark 15:33–39; Luke 23:44–47

Key Verse: Matthew 27:54 (KJV) — “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”

At the foot of the cross, where human cruelty appeared to have silenced the voice of righteousness, an unnamed Roman centurion became an unexpected witness to the identity of Jesus. He stood among those guarding the crucified Lord, yet what he witnessed would call forth something different from the insults surrounding Calvary. Matthew records the earthquake and the great fear that came upon the centurion and those with him; Mark draws our attention to the way Jesus died; and Luke tells us that the centurion glorified God and acknowledged Jesus as righteous. From the place of execution came a declaration of recognition: “Truly this was the Son of God.” Some people stand near sacred things and remain unmoved; others allow what they see to challenge what they have assumed. Dare to be like this centurion: dare to recognize truth when it confronts you, to let the cross interrupt your indifference, and to give Christ the honor that others refuse Him.

The centurion’s example begins with his response to what stood before him. Mark places him facing Jesus and connects his declaration with the manner of Jesus’ death. He was not merely watching events unfold at a distance; he stood before the One whose death became the occasion for his testimony. There is a difference between looking at the cross and allowing the cross to question your heart. We may become so familiar with religious language that we no longer pause before the wonder of the crucified Savior. We may hear His name, sing about His sacrifice, and speak of His suffering without surrendering our pride. This soldier’s response challenges such comfortable distance. Dare to look again at Jesus: not merely as the subject of a sermon, the symbol on a building, or the name in a familiar song, but as the Lord whose claim upon your life requires an answer.

The centurion also challenges us to acknowledge truth when doing so means departing from the judgment around us. He belonged to the force guarding Jesus, yet his recorded testimony did not repeat the verdict implied by the execution. Matthew and Mark preserve the declaration that Jesus was the Son of God, while Luke records his words, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” The Gospel accounts do not give us a complete history of his subsequent life, and we need not invent one to appreciate this moment. What they give us is a man who spoke differently after witnessing what happened. Dare to possess that humility: the willingness to admit that your position does not make every judgment right, that the crowd does not determine the truth, and that an honest confession is better than a stubborn defense of error. When the light exposes a mistaken judgment, do not protect your reputation at the expense of righteousness.

Luke adds a beautiful dimension to this soldier’s response: “he glorified God.” His recognition was not expressed only as an observation about an extraordinary death; it became an occasion for giving glory to God. Here is a searching lesson for everyone who encounters the message of Calvary. Being impressed is not the same as giving God glory, and being emotionally moved is not the same as yielding your will. The question is not simply whether the story of Jesus touches us, but whether we will honor Him with the truth we speak and the lives we lead. Dare to move beyond admiration into reverence, beyond religious familiarity into personal surrender, and beyond private agreement into faithful acknowledgment. Let your response to Christ be more than a passing feeling that disappears when the moment becomes ordinary again.

This unnamed soldier reminds us that an enduring witness does not require a celebrated name. The Gospel accounts preserve his response at the cross without supplying his name, and his declaration continues to direct attention away from himself and toward Jesus. That is an example worth carrying into our own generation. Not everyone will occupy a pulpit, lead a congregation, or become widely known, but every believer can refuse to add another voice to the noise of unbelief. You can honor Christ in a difficult conversation, acknowledge when you have judged wrongly, and speak truth without demanding recognition for yourself. Dare to be like the centurion at the cross: dare to let your pride bow, your voice bear witness, and your life point beyond your own importance to the glory of the crucified Lord.

Action Steps: Read the three Gospel accounts in today’s text slowly, noticing what each writer emphasizes about the centurion’s response. Identify one area where pride, familiarity, or the desire to fit in has kept you from responding honestly to Christ. If you have joined others in an unfair judgment, correct your words and seek to repair the harm. Choose one deliberate way today to honor Jesus through truthful speech, humble repentance, or a clear acknowledgment of your faith. Let your response to the cross become visible in the way you treat people and obey the Lord.

Quote for the Day: “You do not need a name the world remembers to bear a witness that points the world to Christ.” — (Simon Olatunji #quotablequotes)

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, bring me to the cross with a heart that is willing to see, believe, and respond. Deliver me from the pride that defends error, the familiarity that weakens reverence, and the fear that keeps truth unspoken. Give me the humility to acknowledge when I am wrong and the courage to honor Your Son when others refuse Him. Let me never become a spectator of holy things while my heart remains unchanged. Teach me to glorify You, not only with a confession upon my lips, but with obedience in my daily life. Whether my name is remembered or forgotten, let my witness point clearly to Jesus Christ, Your righteous and glorious Son — in Jesus’ most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for threshing the Word with me today. For further study on this topic, please read: Matthew 27:27–54; Mark 15:16–39; Luke 23:32–49; John 19:16–37; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 Peter 2:21–24.

With all my love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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