29. Then when harvest season comes and the grain is ripe, the farmer cuts it with a sickle.
30. Finally, Jesus said:What is God's kingdom like? What story can I use to explain it?
31. It is like what happens when a mustard seed is planted in the ground. It is the smallest seed in all the world.
32. But once it is planted, it grows larger than any garden plant. It even puts out branches that are big enough for birds to nest in its shade.
33. Jesus used many other stories when he spoke to the people, and he taught them as much as they could understand.
34. He did not tell them anything without using stories. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.
35. That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let's cross to the east side.”
36. So they left the crowd, and his disciples started across the lake with him in the boat. Some other boats followed along.
37. Suddenly a storm struck the lake. Waves started splashing into the boat, and it was about to sink.
38. Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don't you care that we're about to drown?”
39. Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm.
40. Jesus asked his disciples, “Why were you afraid? Don't you have any faith?”
41. Now they were more afraid than ever and said to each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”