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62

Winning Different Souls at the Cross

John 19:17-30

  • Session: 62
  • Week: 10
  • Day: 1
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Introduction

In the current session, John 19:17-30, we encounter Jesus the Messiah at the cross. We will learn the few last words he spoke on the cross, which John recorded, and the power these words hold in winning souls to himself. We also understand what the people at the cross said about him or did to him. Jesus won the souls of people during his life and even at the cross.

Objectives

By the end of this session, the learner will have:

  • Understood how Jesus attempted to win different souls at the cross
  • Noted the state of the soldiers who are between the rock and the hard ground as they seek to serve the kings and rulers of the world.
  • Appreciated the actions different people said or did at the foot of the cross.
  • Understood Jesus’ last words at the cross.

Outline

  • Winning souls at the cross
  • Soldiers’ mission in dilemma
  • What different witnesses did and said
  • It is finished

Group Study Time

John 19:17-30

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • Read John 19: 18-22. What accusation note was put on the cross for Jesus? In what languages? Why did they put the three languages on his cross?
  • Read John 19: 23-24. Who is a soldier? Why do they exist? Precisely, trace at least 5 actions of the soldiers at the cross. What prayer would you make for the soldier today?
  • Read John 19: 25-30. Identify at least 5 other people at the cross of Jesus. What did they either say or do, and why? Who else do you think was supposed to be at the cross? Why? Where were they?
  • What words did Jesus say on the cross from John’s Gospel?

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

Winning Different Souls at the Cross

John 19:17-30

John 19:17-30

  • Context:
    • John narrates God becoming flesh to die for humanity; Pilate, despite knowing Jesus’ innocence, yielded to the crowd, washing his hands of responsibility (John 19:1-16).
    • The cross (Golgotha) is the pivotal place where diverse souls—criminals, soldiers, women, disciples—were won to Jesus.
  • The Thief (Criminals):
    • Two thieves crucified with Jesus initially mocked Him; one, softened by God, recognized Jesus’ innocence and kingdom, saying, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
    • Represented lawbreakers; knew the gospel (Jesus’ death, burial, ascension, return), showing even thieves can be won at the cross.
  • The Soldiers (Police):
    • Soldiers, often hardened, divided Jesus’ garments and cast lots, fulfilling Scripture (Psalm 22:18); pierced His side, releasing blood and water.
    • A centurion, witnessing His death, declared, “Surely this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54), illustrating soldiers’ hearts can be won.
  • The Women:
    • Mary Magdalene (delivered from demons) and other women followed Jesus from Galilee to the cross, later bringing spices for His burial.
    • Their persistent faith showed women’s hearts transformed by the cross’s power.
  • John and Mary (Disciples and Family):
    • John, steadfast at the cross, was entrusted with Mary, Jesus’ mother, fulfilling a greater responsibility.
    • Mary, initially uncertain (John 2), fully believed through this act, won by Jesus’ care from the cross.
  • “It Is Finished”:
    • Jesus, after tasting sour wine on hyssop (echoing Passover), declared, “It is finished,” then died—signifying mission accomplished, not personal defeat.
    • Meaning: Sin’s debt paid in full for all (thieves, soldiers, women, crowds, leaders); no human effort (church, tithes, rituals) adds to this completed work.
  • Application:
    • The cross wins diverse souls—criminals to leaders—through Jesus’ finished work, offering redemption freely to all who believe.
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How to use these studies

These lessons are designed as short, 25-minute studies based on Bible truths, and meant for self-learning or small group study. The study sets systematically cover different books of the Bible. 

Each lesson follows a simple structure:

  • Introduction (Including the outline and objectives)
  • Step 1: Connecting
  • Step 2: Comprehending
  • Step 3: Committing
  • Step 4: Communicating

These sections include questions to help you reflect on the bible passage and how it applies to your life. 

Use these lessons to disciple others by journeying together over time and allowing God’s word to penetrate your heart and bring transforming change to your life. As a leader, pray for wisdom in leading and for modelling the truths in your own life.

Sharing offline

  • Mobile Friendly PDF
  • Print Friendly PDF
  • Full Study PDF

Each lesson has three buttons allowing you to download a easily saveable and shareable PDF version of the study. You can choose either a Mobile-friendly PDF version, and Print-friendly PDF version, or a print version of the Full Study PDF (for example all the lessons in the current book of the Bible).

These are free and can be easily copied and shared from one person to another!

Gathering a Small Group

Start small to build a safe space for sharing and growth.

  • Pray first: Ask God to show you 3-6 people who need encouragement in faith, like family, neighbors, or fellow believers facing hardship.
  • Invite personally: Meet one-on-one, explain how the lessons are designed to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Keep it simple: Meet in a home or quiet spot; no need for fancy setup – just willing hearts.
  • Aim for consistency: Suggest weekly meetings, but be flexible for busy lives or safety concerns in persecuted areas.

Trust helps everyone open up, reflect, and apply truths without fear.

  • Start with sharing: In the first meeting, share simple stories of your own faith struggles to show vulnerability.
  • Set ground rules: Agree to listen without judging, keep stories private, and focus on encouraging each other.
  • Build bonds: Begin each session with a short prayer or song inviting God to be present with you.
  • Be patient: Trust grows over time – encourage quiet members gently, and celebrate small steps of honesty.

Good preparation makes the lesson flow and helps discipleship.

  • Read ahead: Study the lesson before; pray over the Bible passage and think how it fits your group’s challenges.
  • Adapt for the group: Use simple words; if literacy is low, read aloud slowly and explain questions or stories.
  • Gather basics: Have a Bible (in your language) and paper for notes.
  • Reflect personally: Ask yourself the study questions first – lead from your own growth and experience.
  • Pray: Pray for your group members.

Guide the group through the lesson structure to encourage discovery and commitment.

  • Step 1 – Connecting: Start the group meeting by praying together. Thank God for his Word and ask for open hearts to receive it. Read the Bible passage together (Read it aloud twice; ask someone to repeat in their words.)
  • Step 2: Comprehending: Use the provided questions to help you grapple with the truth of the Bible passage.
  • Step 3 – Committing: Consider how the passage might apply to your lives and what simple steps of obedience you can commit to. The goal of these studies if life-change! Not just knowledge!
  • Step 4 – Communicating:  Think of who you can share the truths you have learned with.
  • Close with Prayer: Let group members pray short prayers of thanks or commitment. Pray for one another.

For many of the lessons, there is a short summary teaching voice-note at the end of the lesson (together with a text summary). This is designed to be a recap and reminder of the key lessons you should have learned through the lesson. 

As a leader, you might like to use these summary teaching resources to help you in preparation for leading your group, though ideally not before you have spent time prayerfully reflecting on the passage.

This is an ongoing discipleship journey aiming to transform lives and help people to live victorious Christian lives. Focus on growth, not just finishing lessons.

  • Meet regularly: Join together at least once a week. Review past actions at each start to build accountability.
  • Encourage reflection: Between meetings, urge personal time with the lesson – read, pray, and try complete commitments made.
  • Support one another: If your group members are facing challenges, use lessons to pray together and share burdens; become “agents of change” by helping others in your community.
  • Multiply groups: As trust grows, encourage members to start their own small groups with family or friends.
  • Keep it short: Stick to 15 – 25 minutes per lesson to fit busy, challenging lives.
  • Handle challenges: If fear or hardship arise, encourage members by always pointing back to God’s love. 
  • Stay safe: In persecuted areas, meet discreetly; focus on heart change over big displays.
  • Celebrate progress: Note how people have grown in faith; allow time for sharing testimonies of what God has done. Take note of what you pray for, and give thanks when God answers prayer.

Final encouragement

Leading these lessons is serving like Jesus – humble, loving, and truthful. As you journey together, God will build growing faith into each person’s life. Pray often, and watch lives transform!

If you would like to share stories of faith from your own communities, please get in touch with us!