Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - DETAILS

DETAILS

It has been said that “the devil’s in the details,” but more often it’s really that the truth is in the details and usually it seems that we just don’t wish to know or discover what that truth really is. Perhaps that is why we often just skim material, picking out what we think is important rather than examining everything carefully and noting all the details we might otherwise have missed.

It has also been said that nothing in the Bible is there without a reason; that every detail has some meaning and it is up to us to find out what that meaning really is. There are, for example, small details in the story leading up to the events of Christ’s crucifixion that we often do not pay much attention to but they are not without a degree of significance

In Mark’s gospel, we read of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem and His request to the disciples to “…‘Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat…’” (Mark 11:2).  Now if an animal has not been previously ridden, it is not likely that a person attempting to get on it’s back would just be totally accepted but “…they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it,” (Mark 11:7).    

Jesus also said: “‘And if anyone says to you ‘why are you doing this’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here,’”(Mark 11:3).  When the disciples were questioned involving this thing “…they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go,” (Mark 11:6).

Later on, when He was arranging a place for the passover, Jesus told His disciples to “‘Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him,’” (Mark 14:13). Another small but important detail. 

So why were these small incidences mentioned at all? Are they really required for the story?  You see, a donkey or colt that has never been ridden would normally not readily accommodate someone on its back.  Likewise, people who see strangers taking something that is obviously not theirs usually in some way protest and don’t just accept the event so casually.  Finally, men in those days did not usually carry water, that was the job for someone else, so finding one that did was out of the ordinary.  

These incidences are likely noted so that we can see how Jesus can control even animal behaviour and can have people undertake actions which are not their norm or in their character.  Even when people are not aware of any influence, God may be behind the scenes causing things to happen to fulfil His purposes.

It therefore behoves us to consider every detail in these recorded events and actions in the Bible for they may be more applicable to our everyday life than we at first realize. In the lesson of the fig tree, Jesus is on His way back into Jerusalem from Bethany, where He had spent the night.  “And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, ‘Let no one eat fruit from you ever again’…”( Mark 11:13-14).  Fig trees are not supposed to have only leaves, in fact, they often have fruit before leaves. This is the only destructive miracle of Jesus and in the detail is a warning to us: while we are living we should be not only be just producing leaves but also fruit. God said in Genesis 1:22 for man to “be fruitful.”  He meant as such for man to fulfil His purpose on earth as well as to populate it. And His purpose really is for us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20).

It’s amazing what’s in the details of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Details we should remember and continue to think about.