This idea can either be used as a one-off, or used over a series of meetings to build up the picture.

Each puzzle section has a number. And that number corresponds to a part of the story.

You can work large or A4 size. Whatever size you choose, we stuck it onto card, and then cut it up along the lines, and as we told the story we used blu-tak to attach it to a back board. 

Here are some suggestions as you tell the story, but these are ideas only:   (Numbers are puzzle pieces)

1. The Last supper
2. Jesus went to the garden to pray. Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him, and He wanted to talk to His Father God about it. While Jesus prayed, His disciples fell asleep!
3. When Jesus had finished praying, some soldiers came to the garden to arrest Jesus
4. The soldiers took Jesus away and took Jesus to court. This court was run by the chief priests. The priests asked Jesus lots of questions. But Jesus did not say anything. Jesus did not get cross or shout at them. He was quiet.
5. The chief priests were getting nowhere. They wanted to put Jesus to death, but they could not find a good reason! So the chief priests took Jesus to the Roman governor. He was called Pilate. Pilate was in charge, and he agreed to have Jesus put to death.
6. Then Jesus was taken back to the soldiers. The soldiers treated Jesus very badly. Jesus was in a lot of pain.

Then perhaps add some more detail about the crucifixion as appropriate for your group, with a simple message about God's amazing love for us.

Puzzle piece 7. This last piece heart-shaped. We pointed this out, and emphasised just how much Jesus loves us all.

AND Jesus did not stay dead. Jesus came back from the dead. Jesus is alive for ever more. Jesus died and came back to life, so that, if we believe this, and ask Jesus, you and I can be friends with God, and have all the bad bits in our lives (sin) forgiven, and cleaned up. That is fantastic. That is why Jesus died that horrible death. He loved us so very much.

Resources:
1. A4 PDF version of the puzzle to cut out and work with if you want to work small.
2. A large scale PDF version of the puzzle. It is 21 pages. Once lined up and the extra bits removed, you will have a huge version of the puzzle! 
3. We also gathered together a small cross, some dice, some large nails, a circle of bramble to make a crown of thorns, (wear gloves!) and a "spear". We used these as we told the story.

The final result looks like this. 

Further resources are here:
Our main resources page.
Our A to Z listing