Hearing

Yesterday a trailer truck driving behind me made a sound, it wasn’t an unfamiliar sound since I’ve heard those trucks make that sound before, but this time I did not hear the sound with my ears, but I felt the sound inside my entire torso. It was an unusual sensation that I truly cannot describe, and it frightened me.

That experience reminded me of a verse that only appears in some bibles. For reasons unknown to me, in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 7, verse 16 in several versions, is completely omitted where verse 15 is immediately followed by verse 17. However, verse 16 can be found in the Amplified Classic edition of the Bible, which bears the footnote: Many manuscripts do not contain this verse.

If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening [and let him perceive and comprehend by hearing].

Whether this verse was once there and removed or added later and by whom is a pointless debate, the fact is, it reinforces our need to hear, not with our physical ears but in a place that is deep inside us. This is a call to hear and listen in our souls.

Every day we are bombarded by noise – external and internal. God is speaking but we’re so distracted by the noise that we neither hear nor listen. We need to develop the ability to hear properly.

When, in Mark 9:7, we read that God said, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”, it is a clear indication of the importance of listening, not superficially but hearing with spiritual intention.

Yesterday, I did not simply hear a sound, my “hearing” came as a reverberation felt at the level of my soul. Throughout Jesus’ teaching, when He implores us to truly hear, I believe it is similar or even more intense than what I experienced.

Hearing with our physical ears, is not equated to hearing the spiritual. So that, not everyone who hears, is hearing. Hearing is not a physical act but a spiritual decision. How we understand the Truth depends on the disposition of our souls.

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand:” – Mark 7:14 (ESV)

Jesus had just confronted the religious leaders and was now drawing the people to Himself. This was no ordinary call; it was a call for them to turn away from empty religious teachings, traditions and rituals to Truth which necessitates hearing from a different space within because to grasp Truth requires deeper comprehension.

Beloved, this topic is so extensive, too much to cover in one blog post. This is just a nibble to encourage you to go in search of the whole meal.

Keep in mind that Jesus’ call to hearing is not just auditory but is a call to awaken your spiritual understanding.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Hearing” © 2026 October 30, 2026