Light obliterates darkness
For the lesson titled "Unreality" from March 26-April 1, 2012
Apparent dichotomies of reality and unreality both having power and influence are baseless. “The conceptions of mortal, erring thought must give way to the ideal of all that is perfect and eternal” (Science and Health, p. 260, citation 13).
The citations in this Lesson show us many opposites: eternal versus temporal, infinite versus finite, harmony versus discord, light versus darkness, one God versus many gods, closeness to God versus separation, and so on. Erroneous thinking would have us believe that these opposites are all a part of reality, but Christian Science shows us that only good has power.
In the first section, Second Kings 17 (cit. 2) is speaking of incorrect worship. Instead of recognizing only the one true God, the Israelites and their kings are worshiping other gods setting up “images and groves in every high hill” (17:10). What the King James Version calls “images” and “groves,” other translations call “pillars” or “stones” and “Asherah poles” or “Asherim” (see, for example, New American Standard Bible). The poles were representations of the goddess Asherah. They were planted upright in the ground or were possibly still-living trees that had had all of the branches removed (see The New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible). The Old Testament speaks strongly against idol worship, but it is nice to know that we are not forbidden to plant trees!
YHWH was the sacred name for God that was hardly ever spoken or written outside of the Bible. Instead, YHWH was called Lord (Adonai) or El Shaddai, the Almighty. In biblical times, there was believed to be great power in names, which created a false sense of separation with God. We can correct this lie by acknowledging God’s closeness, recognizing our perfection with God: “Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God” (Deuteronomy 18:13, cit. 11).
Understanding who God is, who we are in reality, and how God loves us are important steps in bringing light to the darkness of the beliefs of error and its limitations.
In Section IV in John 12 (cit. 13), we hear of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just days before his crucifixion. The event that is today celebrated as Palm Sunday is also recounted in Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, and Luke 19:28–40. John says that the crowd consisted of followers who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, among others (see 12:17, 18). Only John ever mentions Lazarus, though. In Matthew, the multitude has come with Jesus, explaining to the Jerusalemites, who do not know him, that they are acclaiming Jesus of Nazareth. Mark and Luke do not specify the individuals who make up the crowd, although Luke calls them all disciples. When the Pharisees tell Jesus to make his disciples stop shouting for him, he responds that if they did not shout, the stones themselves would call out. Only John and Matthew quote from the prophet Zechariah (9:9), explaining why Jesus must ride a donkey’s colt on his way into Jerusalem. As Jesus fulfills this specific prophecy, he is showing that he knows God’s plan for him, living in closeness to God.
Understanding who God is, who we are in reality, and how God loves us are important steps in bringing light to the darkness of the beliefs of error and its limitations. We can’t let popular worries, such as fear for the future or uncertain finances, take away our certainty of God’s presence and protection of us. We also want to beware groupthink like that of the crowd that called for Jesus’ crucifixion just days after the multitude had praised him. It helps to remember that “Truth destroys falsity and error, for light and darkness cannot dwell together” (Science and Health, p. 474, cit. 29). Regardless of what the crowd says, Truth is the only real power, and unreality cannot touch us.
