The Lost Way: What Is Jesus’ Authentic Message ?

In his groundbreaking opus magnum, The Lost Way: How Two Forgotten Gospels Are Rewriting the Story of Christian Origins (HarperOne, 2014), the New Testament scholar, Stephen J. Patterson, identifies 53 sayings of Jesus which can be accepted as authentic. On pages 215-216, Patterson gives, “Figure 10: A List of Thomas-Q Parallels.” From this list, can the follower of Jesus know what Jesus taught?

Yes. Because these 53 sayings have independent multiple attestations, the historian can be reasonably certain these sayings come directly from Jesus. In this overview, I shall excavate what Jesus taught and just as importantly what Jesus did not teach.

1. The follower of Jesus is first a seeker of wisdom. This comes from reflection and integrating Jesus’ teaching into one’s being. Here’s how Thomas introduces his gospel: “And he said, ‘whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death’” (sayings 1,2). In a saying book, Q, used by Matthew and Luke to construct their gospels, Jesus puts it this way: “And I tell you, Ask and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives and he who seeks finds” (Q 11:9, 10).


2. Here we note that salvation can only be found by seeking. No one can do this for you. Listening to others will lead to eternal death. Here’s how Thomas puts it: “Jesus said, ‘If a blind person leads a blind person, both of them will fall into a hole' ” (saying 34). In Q Jesus says, “He also told them a parable, ‘Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?' ” (Q 6:39).


3. What is the seeker seeking? The dedicated seeker will find he is a child of the Living Father: “When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are the children of the living Father” (saying 3). In Q Jesus says: “The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Lo, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Q 17: 20-21).


4. Once the seeker fully integrates that he is a child of the Living Father, the seeker unites with Jesus: “Whoever will not take up his cross and follow me as I do, will not be worthy of me” (saying 55). In Q Jesus says: “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Q 14: 27).


5. What is the result for the seeker who unites with Jesus? The seeker is transformed into the consciousness of light: “There is a light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, it is darkness” (saying 24). In Q Jesus says: “Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is sound, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound, you body is full of darkness" (Q 11:34). 


6. As the initiate transforms into the light consciousness, his relations with others is also transformed. The initiate sees others as potential immortals and treats them accordingly: “Jesus says, ‘Do not lie, and do not do what you hate, because all things are disclosed before heaven” (saying 6). In Q Jesus says: “And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them” (Q 6: 31). 


7. When will the transformation into the light occur? Jesus is empathic that God’s Kingdom is right here, right now: “His followers said to him, ‘When will the kingdom come?’ It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Look, here it is’ or ‘Look, there it is.’ Rather, the Father’s Kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it" (saying 113). In Q Jesus says: “The Kingdom of God is in your midst of you” (Q 17:21).


8. The above seven teachings of Jesus are foundational in understanding and then gladly receiving his words. Jesus words points to both a physical and spiritual transformation in which there is a marriage of body and spirit into one. As the spiritual awakening occurs, the union with Jesus’ Resurrection also occurs. This leads to both a physical and spiritual resurrection. This is the discovery Jesus was hoping his listeners would discover: Immortality is available right here, right now!


9. In this dark age, nearly all who claim to be followers of Jesus accept the reality of Jesus’ physical resurrection. They also claim to be united with Jesus. Yet, they look for God’s Kingdom as a future event when Jesus’ entire message was to seek and find—NOW! Be transformed into light consciousness—NOW! Be physically resurrected with me—NOW! All the authentic sayings which Professor Patterson has collected point to the present moment in which salvation is found. In Thomas Jesus says: “You examine the face of heaven and earth, but you have not come to know the one in your presence, and you do not know how to examine this moment” (saying 91). In Q Jesus says, “You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Q 12: 56).




Conclusion: The purpose of the Thomas Immortality Project is to restore Jesus’ original message to the world: Physical Immortality is available today! To my knowledge, I am the only follower of Jesus in the world as of today. Perhaps the reader would like to be a follower of Jesus. If so, you would be the second follower of Jesus since his brothers Judas and James who led the original Jesus movement after Jesus’ Resurrection; apparently, Judas is the author of the Gospel of Thomas and James was the leader in Jerusalem of Jesus’ followers. If the reader accepts the gift of eternal life, now is the time to do so since “you might die and then try to see the Living One, and you will be unable to see” (saying 59).