While doing a March for Jesus rally I observed that many of the crosses I had made were being used as swords. That lead to this teaching.
Make the sword as you tell the story from the Bible. Judas had betrayed Jesus and as the Roman soldiers were arresting Him, Simon Peter took out his sword and cut off a servants ear. (The account of this story in Luke tells us that Jesus healed the ear)
Show the sword. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away. Jesus knew that the Scriptures must be fulfilled. Jesus was ready for the cross. It seems Jesus seemed to turn everything around. He said the last would be first, and that the greatest in the kingdom would be a servant. Instead of a sword, Jesus chose the cross. Turn the sword upside down to show it as a cross.