James the Righteous

James the Righteous

James the Righteous represents the man with the disciplined mind, that of right consciousness. I am discussing the 12th and 13th verses of the Gospel of Thomas in today’s post. In the twelfth verse,  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.”

In verse thirteen, Jesus said to his disciples, “Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like.” Simon Peter said, “You are like a righteous angel.” Matthew said to him, “You’re 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 I have measured out.” And he took him and withdrew him 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.”

The Twelve Disciples

The first thing I want to point out in these verses from the Gospel of Thomas is that the word disciple means a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher.  In the bible, because it is all psychological truth rather than secular history, the twelve disciples represent the twelve qualities of mind which can be controlled and disciplined by man.  All individuals in the bible represent states of consciousness.  They are the states we move through while on our journey of awakening. Jesus is the personification of the power and wisdom of God.

Are you like James the Righteous?  Do you have a disciplined mind, that of right-consciousness (right-thinking)?  Wherever you, embody the state of consciousness personified as James the Righteous in the Gospel of Thomas. Discipline your mind at all times.  Now, Earth represents man’s body, and heaven is within man.  These states of consciousness were created to allow a man to experience all things and eventually awaken. 

Next, in verse thirteen, the word angel means messenger of God.  Jesus, the state of consciousness, which is the power and wisdom of God, is like a messenger, one of right consciousness. The disciple Simon Peter is the attribute of hearing. When lifted to the level of discipleship, this faculty permits only such impressions to reach consciousness as those that his hearing has commanded him to let enter.

Matthew and Thomas

Now, Matthew is the personification of the gift of God.  The gift of God is Grace, and by grace, one has received the power and the wisdom of Jesus Christ, embodying that state of consciousness. Thomas is the personification of the state of consciousness that denies every rumor and suggestion that is not in harmony with what Simon has been commanded to let enter. So, when you are like Thomas, you have drunk from the bubbling spring, which is water, and water symbolizes psychological truth.  You know Jesus Christ by grace and hearing and believing the word of God.

Finally, the aspect of mind that is personified as Thomas recognizes that if he speaks on what he has heard, then others will throw stones (which represent the facts of life, i.e., Circumstances) at him. Then a fire (God) will come out of the stones (facts of life) and burn you up. “For God is a consuming fire.” [Hebrews 12:29].