(i) St Thomas Gospel V11 to V15

In this article we will discuss the mystical text of St Thomas Gospel in relation to meditation on the light and sound within. Continuing on this series we will look at St Thomas Gospel V11 to V15

 

(11) Jesus said, “This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away. The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. In the days when you consumed what is dead, you made it what is alive. When you come to dwell in the light, what will you do? On the day when you were one you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?”

 This heaven shall pass away = where his disciples awareness is at present will be transcended for something higher as their consciousness is raised within.

The one above it shall pass away = similar process to above & also a reminder for them to keep on seeking until they find God and not rest where they are.

The dead are not alive = those people not in touch with their spirituality are effectively ‘dead’ to who they are.

The living will not die = those contacting spirit within will find their immortal essence.

Consumed the dead making it alive = being consumed by the lower mind and mistaking it for the truth. We create something ‘living’ even though its essential nature is ‘dead’ as everything to do with the mind is transient and cannot last. Even meat is something dead and we make it alive by being part of our aura. That is why traditional theory is that it is best to avoid these ‘dead’ energies on the spiritual quest.

When you dwell in the light = the spiritual light within.

The one became two = we bring our multifaceted nature into the light and must resolve dualities within us to see the oneness of God. We must be able to let go of the attachments to the world so that the two again become one.

(12) The disciples said to Jesus, “We know that you will depart from us. Who is to be our leader?” 

Jesus said to them, “Wherever you are, you are to go to James the righteous, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.”

Jesus nominates James as a teacher as he understood the most about the teachings of Christ.

(13) Jesus said to his disciples, “Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like.” 
Simon Peter said to him, “You are like a righteous angel.” 
Matthew said to him, “You are like a wise philosopher.” 
Thomas said to him, “Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom you are like.” 
Jesus said, “I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out.” 
And he took him and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, “What did Jesus say to you?” 
Thomas said to them, “If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up.”

His disciples fall into the trap of attributing qualities to him and to spiritual teachers that are very ‘idealistic’. This is perhaps why Jesus asks the question in the first place i.e. to dispel their way of thinking about him and their relationship to him and also to empower themselves more.

I am not your master = Jesus not wanting to be in the  role of a teacher or master even though the church have subsequently chose to worship him as one, against his wishes.

Of all the answers he receives, Thomas gives perhaps the best one as he does not formulate words to describe Jesus, so as he is the most open Jesus chooses him to forward his message on to the rest.

Throwing of the stones = Thomas will not tell the other disciples what they want to hear from Jesus so they will speak words(throw stones) which will be damaging and these ill words will consume them.

(14) Jesus said to them, “If you fast, you will give rise to sin for yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and walk about in the districts, if they receive you, eat what they will set before you, and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but that which issues from your mouth – it is that which will defile you.”

 Fasting giving rise to sin = sin is another name for ‘desires’ so by extreme denial we create tensions and desires which are both unnecessary and sinful.

If you prey you will be condemned = the best way to prey is to meditate with a sense of giving up everything. Preying to influence events for others or the self does not show faith in the father who knows best.

Giving alms does harm to the spirit =  giving alms involves giving to others as an act of virtue, either materially or in the sense of providing capabilities (i. e. education) for free and exists in a number of religions. The greatest gift we can give is spiritually and not materially, to do otherwise we have moved away from what is most important.

Healing the sick = not physically but spiritually. So following on from the above, in which we have identified that spiritual purpose is most important, ‘sickness’ is referring to the sickness of the soul (metaphorically) that has lost touch with its true purpose.

That which issues from your mouth will defile you  = what we speak in error can have cause much suffering and damage to others so we must be on guard to say only that which is truthful, kind and necessary and spiritually relevant.

(15) Jesus said, “When you see one who was not born of woman, prostrate yourselves on your faces and worship him. That one is your father.”

Not born of woman = one who knows their true nature to be one with God or infinite, never been born, has never died and always will be. They know that they are not ‘the flesh’ or their body which is born out of physical birth from a woman. So when we find a person who is self realised than we accept them as our spiritual father and teacher.

 

(ii) St Thomas Gospel Reference Links 

You can click on either of the links below to find references to the interpretation of the Gospel of St Thomas.

 Gospel of St Thomas Interpretated

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