The Centurion & The Thief at the Cross

Luke 23

Today we conclude our series: The Strange Places We Meet God.
Throughout this series, we’ve explored nineteen stories, and we end now where all stories truly begin—at the cross.

Simon of Cyrene

On the way to the cross, all four gospels record the events, but Matthew, Mark, and Luke highlight the role of a man named Simon.

Luke 23:26

“As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.”

Simon was in Jerusalem for Passover, caught up in the crowd as Jesus walked toward Golgotha. Roman soldiers pulled him out to help carry the cross, fearing Jesus might not survive the journey.

Isaiah prophesied about this moment centuries earlier:

Isaiah 52:14

“Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—”

Isaiah 53:3–11 describes in detail the suffering of the Messiah: despised, rejected, pierced, crushed, and oppressed, yet silent and without sin.

This is the Scripture Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ drew from in his film—but even that was only the PG version of what truly happened. Jesus’ beating was so severe His ribs and backbone were exposed. His flesh was torn. Isaiah said He was hardly recognizable as human.

Simon, forced to carry the cross, is remembered in three gospels—likely because he was changed forever by that encounter. I believe he became a follower of Jesus.

The Two Thieves

Luke 23:32

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.”

All four gospels mention this detail, but Luke tells the full story:

Luke 23:39–43

One criminal hurled insults: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other rebuked him: “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly… But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Two Responses to Jesus

• The first thief represents all who reject Christ. Even if they don’t openly mock Him, their refusal of salvation rejects His sacrifice.

• The second thief confessed his guilt and asked only, “Remember me.”

He had nothing to offer—no church attendance, baptism, communion, service, or worship. Yet Jesus promised him paradise.

Ephesians 2:8–9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Salvation is not about works, but grace.

The thief didn’t even use the word forgive or save. He simply said: Remember me.

Why does that matter?

Matthew 7:21–23 warns that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of the Father. What did the thief do? He acknowledged Jesus as Lord.

Romans 10:13

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The condemned man had nothing left—but in that moment, he found his true identity in Christ.

Identity in Christ

Our world pressures us into boxes—left vs. right, black vs. white, Catholic vs. Protestant, gay vs. straight, runner vs. biker.

But our identity is not in labels. It is in being sons and daughters of the King.

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

To follow Jesus is to put Him first above everything. Anything that takes His place becomes sin.

The thief lost everything, yet gained eternity—because he found his identity in Christ at the cross.

The Centurion

There’s another witness in this story.

Luke 23:47

“The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’”

Matthew 27:54

“When the centurion and those with him saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’”

Mark 15:39

“And when the centurion, who stood in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’”

We don’t know if the centurion later became a believer, but in that moment he recognized who Jesus was.

Scripture tells us that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. The question is: will we confess Him now, or too late?

Like the thief, we too must cry out: “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”