His Glory My Joy, a blog of Author Luana Ehrlich

Teachers of elementary-age children have many ways to get their students’ attention. One of the most effective ways is to ask “Who’s listening to me?”

But “who’s listening?” isn’t just a question for misbehaving kids.

A parent who walks into an empty room with a radio blaring asks, “Who’s listening to this?” Or the director of an intelligence agency asks, “Who’s listening to us?” after discovering an adversary has classified information.

When God spoke directly to three of Jesus’ disciples, He didn’t ask them “who’s listening?”

Instead, He demanded they listen.

This event is described in the New Testament in Mark 9: Peter, James, and John are with Jesus on a mountain when He’s suddenly transfigured before them in all His majestic glory. Peter was so awestruck by what was happening that he immediately proposed doing something to preserve the moment.

However, as soon as he made the suggestion, Mark 9:7 says,  “And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’”

None of the disciples asked God for an explanation. They knew listening to His Son meant paying attention to His words, the words he spoke in conversations, in prayers, in parables, whatever Jesus said to anybody at any time, they needed to listen to Him.

Jesus Himself instructed His disciples to listen. Multiple times in the gospels He says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:9.

What was true for the disciples two thousand years ago is true for us today.

No, Jesus isn’t with us in person, but we still have His words preserved for us in the Bible—words for direction, correction, comfort, encouragement, instruction.

Who’s listening?

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20.