(Fold Figure 1 and begin cutting around Jesus as you talk).  The disciples had eaten the Passover meal with Jesus and now they went to a beautiful garden called Gethsemane.  Jesus said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go a little way over there to pray."  So they sat down to rest but Peter, James, and John went with Jesus to a quiet place.   (Cut out the rest of the Garden and unfold to display the figures).  "Stay here and keep watch with Me," said Jesus, but, it was late at night and the disciples were sleepy.

Jesus went on further into the garden to pray and after a little while He came back and found His disciples sound asleep.  (Fold down one figure to make it "sleep").  "Could you not stay awake for even one hour?" asked Jesus.  The disciples hung their heads in shame, but yawned as Jesus went back to the garden and prayed again.

But, when He came back, he found them once again fast asleep.  Jesus then left them sleeping and went and prayed a third time.  This time when Jesus came back, He woke his disciples.  "Are you all still sleeping?" He asked, "Look, here comes the man who will betray Me!"  (Fold the disciple up again as he awakes).

The disciples jumped up and rubbed their eyes.  There was Judas!  He was leading a crowd of people armed with swords and clubs.  They came to Jesus and arrested Him and then led Him away, while the terrified disciples scattered in every direction.  That is, all except Peter who followed a long way behind.  (Fold Figure 2 on the dotted line, cut out and unfold Jesus.  Cut out the Crown of Thorns and God's Present and set aside for later).

The soldiers took Jesus to be questioned by the High Priest.  He tried to make out that Jesus had done something wrong.  But, they couldn't prove anything against Jesus.  Finally they took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor.  After questioning Jesus, Pilate said, "This man has committed no crime."  But the crowd shouted, "Crucify him!  Away with Him!"  Eventually Pilate gave in to the crowd and ordered the Roman soldiers to crucify Jesus.

(Cut out the Crown of Thorns and place this on Jesus' head).  The soldiers placed a crown of thorns on His head, stripped off His clothes and beat Him with whips and their fists.  I have here a crown of thorns that you can try on your fingers.  (Fold the rest of Figure 3 in half along dotted line, cut out and display Jesus).

They then made Jesus carry a cross up a hill called Golgotha just outside Jerusalem.  When they got there, they nailed His hands and feet to a cross.  They set it upright in a hole, and left Jesus hanging on the cross to die.  (Fold Figure 4 along the dotted lines and cut out the Cross and end circles and hide these behind the cross).  Jesus did not have to die!  He was the Son of God and could have called down ten thousand angels to set Him free.

But, Jesus wanted to give His life for us, because He loved us so much and knew that only He could pay the price for the sin and wrong things we have done.  (Place the figure of Jesus on the cross and use Prestik to hold it in place).  Let the children read Romans 6:23b, "But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Open the side flaps to show that the arms of the cross show how His death bridged the gulf between us and God.  Jesus is also the only way to God, and He made it possible for us to go to Heaven and have eternal life.  It means that each one of us can have our sins forgiven and live with God in Heaven someday.

(Fold the side flaps inward over the Cross and Prestik the label "God's Present" over the panels).  This is "God's Present" for us.   That's the best gift that you will ever receive.  Jesus' death is not the end of the story, because three days later, He rose from the dead and is no longer on the cross. (Open up the "Gift" and take Jesus off the cross and put this figure aside).

Forty days later He went up to Heaven in the clouds and is now He is seated at the right hand of God in Heaven.  (Pick up the clothed figure of Jesus and show Him rising in the air toward Heaven).  One day soon, Jesus is coming again so that we can be with Him forever.

Because Jesus loves us so much, He wants to forgive our sins and make us into God's children.  Perhaps you would like to say this prayer and ask Jesus to come into your life as your Saviour and Lord:

Dear Jesus, I know that You are the Son of God and that You died for me on the cross.  Make me clean inside and take away all the sins that I have done.  Please make me one of God's children so that I can go to Heaven one day.  Thank You for hearing my prayer.  I love You Jesus!  Amen.

God bless!