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Of itself the land produces the crop-- first the blade, then the ear; afterwards the perfect grain is seen in the ear.
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But no sooner is the crop ripe, than he sends the reapers, because the time of harvest has come."
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Another saying of His was this: "How are we to picture the Kingdom of God? or by what figure of speech shall we represent it?
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It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown in the earth, is the smallest of all the seeds in the world;
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yet when sown it springs up and becomes larger than all the herbs, and throws out great branches, so that the birds build under its shadow."
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With many such parables He used to speak the Message to them according to their capacity for receiving it.
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But except in figurative language He spoke nothing to them; while to His own disciples He expounded everything, in private.
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The same day, in the evening, He said to them, "Let us cross to the other side."
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So they got away from the crowd, and took Him--as He was--in the boat; and other boats accompanied Him.
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But a heavy squall came on, and the waves were now dashing into the boat, so that it was fast filling.
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But He Himself was in the stern asleep, with His head on the cushion: so they woke Him. "Rabbi," they cried, "is it nothing to you that we are drowning?"