The Hymn of Jesus

I recently discovered something called “The Hymn of Jesus,” words of Jesus just prior to His crucifixion from a disciple’s view.  G. R. S. Mead translated the short writing from the Leucian Acts of John. 

I thought of this scripture in Matthew and Mark:

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

The tone and verbiage are so reminiscent of things sacred to me and caused me to really consider the Gospel authors’ brief, understated verse.

The Hymn of Jesus

Now before He was taken by the lawless Jews–by them who are under the law of the lawless Serpent–He gathered us together and said:

‘Before I am delivered over unto them we will hymn the Father, and so go forth to what lieth before [us].’

Then bidding us make as it were a ring, by holding each others’ hands, with Him in the midst, He said:

‘Answer “Amen” to Me.’

Then He began to hymn a hymn and say:

THE HYMN.

Glory to Thee, Father!

(And we going round in a ring answered to Him:)

Amen!

Glory to Thee, Word (Logos)!

Amen!

Glory to Thee, Grace (Charis)!

Amen!

Glory to Thee, Spirit!
Glory to Thee, Holy One!
Glory to Thy Glory!

Amen!

We praise Thee, O Father;
We give Thanks to Thee, O light;
In Whom Darkness dwells not!

Amen!

(For what we give thanks to the Logos). [Or, if we adopt the “emended” text: For what we give thanks, I say:]

I would be saved; and I would save.

Amen!

I would be loosed; and I would loose.

Amen!

I would be wounded; and I would wound.

[Or, I would be pierced; and I would pierce. Another reading has: I would be dissolved (or consumed for love); and I would dissolve.]

Amen!

I would be begotten; and I would beget.

Amen!

I would eat; and I would be eaten.

Amen!

I would hear; and I would be heard.

Amen!

 

I would be washed; and I would wash.

Amen!

(Grace leadeth the dance.)

I would pipe; dance ye all.

Amen!

I would play a dirge; lament ye all.

Amen!

The one Eight (Ogdoad) sounds (or plays) with us.

Amen!

The Twelfth number above leadeth the dance.

Amen!

All whose nature is to dance [doth dance].

Amen!

Who danceth not, knows not what is being done.

Amen!

I would flee; and I would stay.

Amen!

I would be adorned; and I would adorn.

Amen!

I would be at-oned; and I would at-one.

Amen!

I have no dwelling; and I have dwellings.

Amen!

I have no place; and I have places.

Amen!

I have no temple; and I have temples.

Amen!

I am a lamp to thee who seest Me.

Amen!

I am a mirror to thee who understandest Me.

Amen!

I am a door to thee who knockest at Me.

Amen!

I am a way to thee a wayfarer.

Amen!

Now answer to My dancing!

See thyself in Me who speak;
And seeing what I do,
Keep silence on My Mysteries.

Understand by dancing, what I do;
For thine is the Passion of Man
That I am to suffer.

Thou couldst not at all be conscious
Of what thou dost suffer,
Were I not sent as thy Word by the Father [or I am thy Word; I was sent by the Father.]

Seeing what I suffer,

Thou sawest Me as suffering;
And seeing, thou didst not stand,
But wast moved wholly,
Moved to be wise.

Thou hast Me for a couch; rest thou upon Me.

Who I am thou shalt know when I depart.
What now I am seen to be, that I am not.
[But what I am] thou shalt see when thou comest.

If thou hadst known how to suffer,
Thou wouldst have power not to suffer.
Know [then] how to suffer, and thou hast power not to suffer.

That which thou knowest not, I Myself will teach thee.

I am thy God, not the Betrayer’s

I would be kept in time with holy souls.

In Me know thou the Word of Wisdom.

Say thou to Me again:

Glory to Thee, Father!
Glory to Thee, Word!
Glory to These, Holy Spirit!

But as for Me, if thou wouldst know what I was:
In a word I am the Word who did play [or dance] all things, and was not shamed at all.
‘Twas I who leaped [and danced].

But do thou understand all, and, understanding, say:

Glory to Thee, Father!

Amen!

(And having danced these things with us, Beloved, the Lord went forth. And we, as though beside ourselves, or wakened out of [deep] sleep, fled each our several ways.)