28. The earth produces crops all by itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full head of grain.
29. Whenever the crop is ready, the farmer goes out to cut the grain because it’s harvesttime."
30. He continued, "What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it?
31. Consider a mustard seed. When scattered on the ground, it’s the smallest of all the seeds on the earth;
32. but when it’s planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all vegetable plants. It produces such large branches that the birds in the sky are able to nest in its shade."
33. With many such parables he continued to give them the word, as much as they were able to hear.
34. He spoke to them only in parables, then explained everything to his disciples when he was alone with them.
35. Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, "Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake."
36. They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along.
37. Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped.
38. But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, "Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?"
39. He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, "Silence! Be still!" The wind settled down and there was a great calm.
40. Jesus asked them, "Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?"
41. Overcome with awe, they said to each other, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"