Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12 v 23 – 24
Lesson Aim
To understand that Jesus had to die
Hook: Different types of seed bearing fruit
Cut open a fruit which contains a many seeds e.g. a melon. Complain about the seeds – Who put them there? Why do fruit have to have seeds? Couldn’t we have fruit without seeds? Share some of the fruit with the children.
Allow the children to tell you about seeds. They should be able to tell you why fruits have seeds etc.
Take one of the seeds and discuss possible places store it where it could germinate, e.g. in your fridge, under your pillow, in a moneybox etc. Again the children should be able to explain the correct conditions which seeds need if they are to germinate. The seed has to be placed in the ground and it appears to die before it will germinate.
Application
A seed has to be buried before it will grow into a new plant. When it grows it will give us many more seeds. Jesus had to die and be buried. Through His death and resurrection He gives new life to all who believe in Him.