Three Trees

Theme:

A paper cutting for kids to learn. The first tree brought in sin and death. The second showed us that even if we are small and not worth very much, Jesus loves us and cares for us. The third tree is the best, because it became an empty wooden cross when Jesus rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God.

Materials Needed:

For every child:
Two copies of Tree pattern from the link below printed on A4 paper.
Scissors.

Click here for the Tree Pattern

The Effect:

The tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is cut out of paper and the story of Adam and Eve's fall into sin is told. The tree is folded smaller and then the second tree that Zaccheaus climbed is cut out and displayed while the story is told. Finally, the tree branches are cut off leaving the third tree, the cross of Jesus Christ!

The Tree of Knowledge:

When God created the heavens and the earth, He planted a little tree in the Garden of Eden (Fold pattern along line 1 vertically, and hold the paper with the drawing facing you). There were many other trees, but this is the tree I'm going to talk about (While you talk, cut along line 2 through both sides to give a big tree). The tree grew until it was tall and developed some lovely fruit.

Meanwhile, the time came when God said, "Let us make man in our image" and so He created Adam and Eve. They lived very happily in the Garden of Eden with all the birds, animals, plants and trees. One day God said to Adam and Eve, "You may eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil", for if you do you will surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). (Unfold the tree and show it to the audience).

All went well until one day the crafty serpent came to them and said, "You will surely not die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5). Adam and Eve looked at the fruit and saw that they were delicious. They did not listen to God and ate the fruit! As a result, God had to cast them out of the garden, and the punishment for their sin was death and eternal separation from God. This is also the punishment for all who have not asked Jesus into their hearts as their Saviour.

Zaccheaus' Tree:

The second tree was a little sycamore tree that grew up alongside a busy road (Fold down the top along horizontal 3 and then both diagonal lines 4 to give a pointed tree shape). For years nobody noticed it until one day when Jesus came to town. If you had been there, you would have seen a little man jumping up and down trying to catch a glimpse of Jesus as He walked down the road (While you talk fold along line 1 again).

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collecter and he was very rich. But, he was also very short and could not see over the crowd. He tried jumping, but he couldn't jump high enough. (Cut through both layers of paper along line 5 and cut out all the branches along lines 6). Finally he had a brainwave, "A tree! I need a tree to get above the crowd!" He looked around and saw the little sycamore tree. "Just the thing!" he yelled, "I'll climb up high and then I will be able to see!" (Unfold the smaller tree and show it to the audience).

He scrambled up the trunk and out onto a thick branch. People below him yelled at him as leaves and branches rained down on their heads! But, Zacchaeus didn't care because he could see the Teacher .... and what's this? Jesus is stopping right under his branch and He's looking up. "Zacchaeus, hurry up and come down, for today I must stay at your house," called Jesus. So Zacchaeus slithered down as fast as he could and rushed off to his house. Later Zacchaeus said to Jesus, "I'm going to give half my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will give them back four times as much!" Jesus replied (Luke 19:10):

"Today salvation has come to your house,
because I have come to seek and to save that which was lost."

The Third Tree:

Jesus also knew there was a third tree waiting for Him (Fold along line 1 again and cut vertically through both layers of paper along line 7). He had to finish the work which God had sent Him to earth to do. And so He went to Jerusalem, and after His arrest and trial, they led Him out to a place called Calvary. There the soldiers nailed Him to a wooden cross made from that tree and crucified our Lord. Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Romans 6:23a says:

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.

Jesus died and shed His blood so that we can have all our sins forgiven and be washed white as snow (Unfold the paper to show the cross). And now we can invite Him to come and live in our hearts as our Saviour and Friend. This third tree is the best. It became just an empty wooden cross, because Jesus rose from the dead and is now seated on His throne at the right hand of God in Heaven.

It's Your Turn:

Find a partner and divide into pairs. I will do the folding and cutting again so that you can follow me and learn how to do it. And then I want you to take the extra sheet and tell the story to a friend who doesn't know Jesus! Remember, very soon Jesus is coming again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we need to tell as many people about Jesus as we can.

God bless!