Under this general title is now being published a series of
small volumes, drawn from, or based upon, the mystic, theosophic
and gnostic writings of the ancients, so as to make more easily
audible for the ever-widening circle of those who love such things,
some echoes of the mystic experiences and initiatory lore of their
spiritual ancestry. There are many who love the life of the spirit,
and who long for the light of gnostic illumination, but who are not
sufficiently equipped to study the writings of the ancients at
first hand, or to follow unaided the labours of scholars. These
little volumes are therefore intended to serve as introduction to
the study of the more difficult literature of the subject; and it
is hoped that at the same time they may become for some, who have,
as yet, not even heard of the Gnosis, stepping-stones to higher
things.
G. R. S. M.
The Gnostic Mystery of the Crucifixion is most clearly set
forth in the new-found fragments of The Acts of
John , and follows immediately on the Sacred
Dance and Ritual of Initiation which we endeavoured to elucidate in
Vol. IV. of these little books, in treating of The
Hymn of Jesus .
The reader is, therefore, referred to the “Preamble” of that
volume for a short introduction concerning the nature of the
Gnostic Acts in general and of the Leucian Acts of
John in particular. I would, however, add a point
of interest bearing on the date which was forgotten, though I have
frequently remarked upon it when lecturing on the
subject.
The strongest proof that we have in our fragment very early
material is found in the text itself, when it relates the following
simple form of the miracle of the loaves.
“Now if at any time He were invited by one of the Pharisees
and went to the bidding, we used to go with Him. And before each
was set a single loaf by the host; and of them He Himself also
received one. Then He would give thanks and divide His loaf among
us; and from this little each had enough, and our own loaves were
saved whole, so that those who bade Him were amazed.”
If the marvellous narratives of the feeding of the five
thousand had been already in circulation, it is incredible that
this simple story, which we may so easily believe, should have been
invented. Of what use, when the minds of the hearers had been
strung to the pitch of faith which had already accepted the feeding
of the five thousand as an actual physical occurrence, would it
have been to invent comparatively so small a wonder? On the other
hand, it is easy to believe that from similar simple stories of the
power of the Master, which were first of all circulated in the
inner circles, the popular narratives of the multitude-feeding
miracles could be developed. We, therefore, conclude, with every
probability, that we have here an indication of material of very
early date.
Nevertheless when we come to the Mystery of the Crucifixion
as set forth in our fragment, we are not entitled to argue that the
popular history was developed from it in a similar fashion. The
problem it raises is of another order, and to it we will return
when the reader has been put in possession of the narrative, as
translated from Bonnet’s text. John is supposed to be the
narrator.
(The Arabic figures and the Roman figures in square brackets
refer respectively to Bonnet’s and James’ texts. I have added the
side figures for convenience of reference in the
comments.)
