Craft Ideas: Jesus Died to Give Life (John 12:20-33)

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Jesus Explains His Purpose (John 12:20-33)In John 12, Jesus is approached by a group of Greeks who want to know more about Him. He uses an agrarian analogy to describe how He must die in order to give others life, just as grain must fall to the ground in order to produce wheat. A glimpse of Christ’s glory is seen as the crowd hears this explanation. These crafts echo that passage. A pop-up card uses textured materials and “popping up” plant art to recall the reference to wheat. A “pop-up plant” features a paper seed and flower in a cup to consider how planted items go down into the ground in order to grow up, just as Jesus was brought low in death, and came back to life for our eternal hope.

Craft DirectionsDownload

Verses or Captions to Consider…  (Main Text: John 12:20-33)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”-John 3:16

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. -John 12:24

 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.  -John 12:25-26

The seed goes down…the plant comes up! And gives life to many.

Jesus gave His life for us…I can make small sacrifices to gain something greater.

More Teaching Ideas:

Craft one: “Pop-up Wheat” Card

You will need:

  • Oats, grain, or flour (optional)
  • Construction paper
  • Markers or crayons
  • Scissors
  • Glue or tape

Procedure:

  1. Fold a piece of construction paper or cardstock in half. Make a large slit in the center of the paper, pulling it inward to form the base of the pop-up feature.
  2. Use construction paper to cut out a plant, tree, or stalk of wheat.
  3. Glue or tape the “plant” onto the pop-up stand inside the card.
  4. Add verses or captions to both sides of the card, decorating to remember the Bible passage discussed.
  5. If desired, glue wheat or oats to the outside of the card for a textured reference to the story and plant analogy.

Craft Two: “Pop-up Plant in a Cup”  

You will need:

  • Pipe cleaners or popsicle sticks
  • Paper or Styrofoam cups
  • Paper (construction)
  • Markers or crayons
  • Glue and/or tape
  • Cupcake liners or coffee filters
  • Scissors
  • Extra decorations

Procedure:

  1. Decorate the cup with stickers, colors, and verse references.
  2. Use the cupcake liners or coffee filters (or construction paper) to make a flowering plant and a seed pod. Alternatively, use actual seeds and/or fake plants.
  3. Attach the “seed” and “flower” to pipe cleaners or popsicle sticks.
  4. Poke the sticks or pipe cleaners into the cup. Pull down on the seed to mimic the action of planting seed into the ground, and push or pull up on the flower to watch the plant come up.
  5. Add extra verses or decorations as desired. If you wish, attach a magnet or string to display the cup.       

More Bible Lessons:

  1. Children’s Sermon (John 12:20-33) Jesus Died to Give Life
    This message demonstrates how Jesus died in order to give us life. Children will consider plants and seeds as an analogy of Christ’s sacrifice. Plants die in a sense and enter the earth, in order to grow up out of the ground and provide new life and vegetation. In the same way, Christ gave up ... Read more...

  2. Jesus Died to Give Life (John 12:20-33) Sunday School Lesson
    During His time on Earth, Jesus provided people with many intriguing analogies and explanations regarding who He was and why He came. Some of these can be challenging for young children to understand, but they can also be helpful to describe as we seek to go deeper into the life and significance of Christ. He ... Read more...

  3. Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30) Sunday School Lesson
    This Bible lesson is based on Matthew 13:24-30 where Jesus teaches the Parable of the Wheat and Tares. We are releasing it with a teaching date of July 19, 2020. Download the free Sunday School lessons below. We’ve included crafts, coloring page, worksheet, and the complete teaching plan. “Is this How You Farm?” Children’s Sunday ... Read more...

  4. Crafts Ideas for the Parable of the Wheat and Tares
    The Parable of the wheat and the weeds might seem like an admonition to get rid of the “bad seed” or unsavory characters…however, the real message behind the metaphor is one that reminds us to let God be the judge of men’s hearts. These simple crafts seek to remind students of the story itself, as ... Read more...

  5. Sunday School Lesson on Matthew 13:24-30: The Wheat and Tares
    The Parable of the Wheat and Tares is an important lesson about leaving judgement up to God. Use these Sunday School lessons and activities to help children understand what Jesus was teaching in Matthew 13:23-40. Our links below all lead directly to PDF downloads unless otherwise noted. Enjoy this free curriculum in your Sunday School ... Read more...

  6. Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Sunday School Lesson)
    This free Sunday School lesson is about Jesus’ parable of the seeds planted on different types of soil. This lesson was prepared for an older elementary age Sunday School class, but you could adapt it for younger students or use it in Children’s Church as well. Following the lesson there are additional resources to help ... Read more...

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