Mark 4:30-36

³⁰Again he said, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to explain it?

³¹It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth.

³²Yet, when it is sown, it grows and becomes greater than all the garden plants, and it forms large branches, so that the birds of heaven can make their nests in its shade.”

³³With many parables like this he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to understand,

³⁴and he did not speak to them without a parable. But when he was alone, he explained everything to his own disciples.

³⁵On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.”

³⁶So they left the crowd, taking Jesus with them, just as he was, in the boat. There were other boats going along with him.