A great way to give meaning to the story Jesus is Crucified and to explain the story of the Burial and Resurrection is to tell them using a single sheet of paper.
Notebook paper or typing paper is fine. You will be tearing layers of paper so I would suggest light or thin paper instead of something thick. It won’t matter if the paper is already written on so you could even use a page out of a magazine or newspaper.
Note: I can’t claim this idea as an original. I have seen it used in many ways and sourced from many different places so I’m not sure what the original source is. I’ve written my own story words and took my own photos but I used some of the ideas for folding instructions from http://maryricehopkins.com.Photo Instructions:
Words you could use to tell The Story of the Cross
Do you know about Jesus and the story of the cross? A cross has special meaning for Christians because it reminds of something very sad and something amazing all at the same time. And the story of the cross is about you and me and every single person in the world.
First for the SAD part: (Say this part as you fold the paper)
Jesus always did good. He taught people how to love God. He made sick people well. He even did miracles like changing water to wine and turning a small amount of fish and bread into enough food to feed over 5,000 people.
Jesus never sinned (did bad things). It doesn’t make sense that a good person like Jesus would be punished as if he was a bad person. But that is exactly what happened. Even though he had never done anything wrong he was punished. His punishment was to be put on a cross and to stay there until he died. It was a very sad day when Jesus died.
After he died Jesus was taken down off the cross. His body was wrapped in cloths and buried in a tomb.
“Death” is the sad part of the story of the cross. (Unfold the cross as you say this)
Now for the AMAZING part:
On the third day after Jesus died some women went to go visit the tomb where he had been buried. But Jesus’ body was not inside the tomb. The cloths were there but Jesus’ body was gone.
There were an angel nearby and he told the women that Jesus was not in the tomb because he was now ALIVE! The women could hardly believe it. But then, Jesus appeared to them and even talked to them. Jesus died and then came back to life again.
“Life” is the amazing part of the story of the cross. (Form the word “life” as you say this)
Now for the part about YOU and ME: (Just say this last part)
After Jesus rose from the dead he spent forty days with many of his friends and others. Then, he did not die but went straight up to heaven instead.
The good news is that Jesus died on the cross for you and for me and everyone in the world. He loves us and does not want us to have to be punished for our sins. Dying on the cross and coming back to life showed that Jesus has power over death. He has the power to save us from death, too.
Jesus will live forever and he wants everyone to live forever with him. Anyone who follows Jesus will live forever with him. Do you want to follow Jesus?
The story of the cross reminds us that “Jesus loves you and me”.
Scriptures for the Teacher to Study:
i love this i have my own bible club at my school and this was perfect
Wonderful!
Thank you for sharing this! God is awesome! Years ago a pastor told me about this story. A missionary was in a prison and his captures told him if he could prove his God was real by making one tear in a piece of paper he was given, they would let him live. So he prayed all night and the next day his captures came to him to see if the man’s God was real. The missionary didn’t know what to do, so he asked, “Lord guide my hands to honor and glorify you!” Then he began to move his hands and he felt guided by a holy presences. The activity above was what God showed him what to do to prove his God was real! Praise God!
i love this so much. Thank you for this visual. I can’t wait to share with my children.
I love this one too! I hope the children enjoy it.