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.
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:
- Watch the video demonstration of this message and related craft ideas
- Compare our Sunday School Lesson on John 12:20-33
- Compare the children’s sermons from rfour.org and sermons4kids on this passage.
- See all our latest children’s sermons, Sunday School Lessons, and Sunday School curriculum
Craft one: “Pop-up Wheat” Card
You will need:
- Oats, grain, or flour (optional)
- Construction paper
- Markers or crayons
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
Procedure:
- 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.
- Use construction paper to cut out a plant, tree, or stalk of wheat.
- Glue or tape the “plant” onto the pop-up stand inside the card.
- Add verses or captions to both sides of the card, decorating to remember the Bible passage discussed.
- 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:
- Decorate the cup with stickers, colors, and verse references.
- 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.
- Attach the “seed” and “flower” to pipe cleaners or popsicle sticks.
- 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.
- Add extra verses or decorations as desired. If you wish, attach a magnet or string to display the cup.