15
"But the seed in the good earth - these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.
16
"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way.
17
We're not keeping secrets; we're telling them. We're not hiding things; we're bringing everything out into the open.
18
So be careful that you don't become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."
19
His mother and brothers showed up but couldn't get through to him because of the crowd.
20
He was given the message, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting to see you."
21
He replied, "My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."
22
One day he and his disciples got in a boat. "Let's cross the lake," he said. And off they went.
23
It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize.
24
They woke Jesus: "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" Getting to his feet, he told the wind, "Silence!" and the waves, "Quiet down!" They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.
25
Then he said to his disciples, "Why can't you trust me?" They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, "Who is this, anyway? He calls out to the winds and sea, and they do what he tells them!"