Arkansas guard Nick Smith watches as free throws are shot against Mississippi State.

In Defense of Nick Smith

Can we not let an 18-year-old post a Bible verse without negativity?

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Feb 22, 2023 10:50 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – When it comes to Nick Smith, Jr. and his relationship with the Arkansas Razorback fan base, there is no middle ground.

That's why, when he posted what on its face seemed to be a rather innocuous Tweet, there was no doubt there would be immediate reaction from both sides.

Smith does very little in the way of social media, especially for a teenager. It's one aspect in which he shows a certain level of wisdom that is rare among people his age.

Yet, it's because of this that fans firmly planted in either faction pounce on the chance to either provide support or take a shot when he does.

In this case, Smith provided a reference to a Bible verse, and, as is often the case with his posts, indicates that people will understand everything in due time. Multiple times this season it has felt like he has a story he wants to tell, but will have to wait to share it.

The verse in question, when read alone, out of context, says this:

John 13:17, KJV:
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

John 13:17, NASB:
If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

John 13:17, NLT:
Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

It's a common go-to verse for senior ads in yearbooks.

Now, there are a lot of different ways to go with this if you don't know the context. Perhaps the most simplistic is to do what you know and God will take care of the rest.

Considering the photo, it could be interpreted that Smith knows he loves being a Razorback and playing for the fans, and he's going to keep doing what God blessed him to do.

To put it simply, it's an 18-year old kid posting a Bible verse. Be glad the young man is reading the Good Book and move on about life.

But that never stopped people from throwing in their two cents.

The one below that had me scrambling for an old school Oxford dictionary.

Turns out, hermeneutics is "the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts."

Since there's nothing in the photo that indicates Nick Smith might think of himself as Jesus, not even so much as a pair of outstretched arms, this last reply needed some context in an attempt to understand.

For those who might not recognize John 17, it's pretty late in the game as far as the story of Christ goes and features one of the most iconic moments in the Bible.

We pick up in verse 12, just after the Lord's Supper. Jesus has just washed the feet of his disciples.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.

¹³“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.

¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

¹⁶Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Basically, in context when considering the previous verses, it's saying to pass on the blessings God has bestowed upon you and be humble.

In that light, if it really needs that much depth, Smith is simply saying God has blessed him with the gift of basketball and he's happy to share it with the people of Arkansas.

It's the "later you'll understand" part of Smith's post that appears to be clouding things up if there's anything unclear at all.

In the next verse, Jesus reveals that there is a betrayer among them. At the beginning of the chapter, he put it in the heart of Judas Iscariot to do so.

¹⁸I am not speaking about all of you. I know the ones whom I have chosen; but this is happening so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’

Perhaps, with some serious over-analyzation or a stern belief that Smith is one incredibly deep dude, this can be stretched to the point of thinking he seems himself as the Messiah and he feels betrayed by someone or some group among his Razorback followers, but that is one heck of a stretch.

Yes, he's more of a high profile figure than any 18-year old probably should be. Yes, there have been a lot of questions about his time at Arkansas.

But this is one case where people need to let it go and allow a kid barely out of high school to post a Bible verse without having to read negativity.

To be fair, there was a solid amount of support for Smith following the post. There was even an "Amen" or two and additional Bible verses added in.

Hopefully Smith learns an important lesson. He could save children trapped in a cave, win a national championship and then forego the NBA to come back to Arkansas to win a second one and there will still people with something negative to say.

Unfortunately, it's just part of being in the spotlight.

If he gets nothing else from his time at Arkansas to prepare him for life in the NBA, he should at least come away with that.