The Gnostic Crucifixion by G. R. S. Mead

Author:G. R. S. Mead [Mead, G. R. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

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POSTCRIPT.

The vision itself is not so marvellous as the instruction; nevertheless it allows us to see that the Cross in its supernal nature is the Heavenly Man with arms outstretched in blessing, showering benefits on all—the perpetual Self-sacrifice (F., 330). And in this connection we should remind ourselves of the following striking sentence from The Untitled Apocalypse of the Bruce Codex, an apocalypse which contains perhaps the most sublime visions that have survived to us from the Gnosis:

“The Outspreading of His Hands is the manifestation of the Cross.”

And then follows the key of the mystery:

“The Source of the Cross is the Man [Logos] whom no man can comprehend.”

(See Hymn of Jesus, p. 53.)

No man can comprehend Man; the little cannot contain the Great, except potentially.

It was some echo of this sublime teaching that found its way into the naïve though allegorical narrative of The Acts of Philip. When Philip was crucified he cursed his enemies.

“And behold suddenly the abyss was opened, and the whole of the place in which the proconsul was sitting was swallowed up, and the whole of the temple, and the viper which they worshipped, and great crowds, and the priests of the viper, about seven thousand men, besides women and children, except where the apostles were; they remained unshaken.”

This is a cataclysm in which the lower nature of the man is engulfed. The apostles are his higher powers; the rest the opposing forces. The latter plunge into Hades and experience the punishments of those who crucify the Christ and his apostles. They are thus converted and sing their repentance. Whereupon a Voice was heard saying: “I shall be merciful to you in the Cross of Light.”

Philip is reproved by the Saviour for his unmerciful spirit.

“But I, O Philip, will not endure thee, because thou hast swallowed up the men in the abyss; but behold My Spirit is in them, and I will bring them up from the dead; and thus they, seeing thee, shall believe in the Glory of Him that sent thee.

“And the Saviour having turned, stretched up His hand, and marked a Cross in the Air coming down from Above even unto the Abyss, and it was full of Light, and had its form after the likeness of a ladder. And all the multitude that had gone down from the City into the Abyss came up on the Ladder of the Cross of Light; but there remained below the proconsul and the viper which these worshipped. And when the multitude had come up, having looked upon Philip hanging head downwards, they lamented with great lamentation at the lawless action which they had done.”

The doers of the “lawless” deed are the same as the “lawless Jews” in the Acts of John—“those who are under the law of the lawless Serpent”; that is to say, those who are under the sway of Generation, as contrasted with those under the law of Re-generation (see Hymn of Jesus, pp. 28, 47).

Philip stands for the man learning the last lesson of divine mercy.

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