gospel of Thomas 46

Jesus said, "Among those born of women, from Adam until John the Baptist, there is no one so superior to John the Baptist that his eyes should not be lowered (before him). Yet I have said, whichever one of you comes to be a child will be acquainted with the kingdom and will become superior to John."

John the Baptist was a hugely significant figure in the life of Jesus. Christianity has focussed everything on Jesus and made him immortal – the Son of God, the only Son of God. And that is all nonsense. Jesus is no different from you. Yes, he became enlightened; he received that great benediction. But that is also possible for you. There is no difference, fundamentally.

And before his great transformation, Jesus also would have followed other teachers and masters. And he was baptised by John the Baptist. This means that John was a master for Jesus. But of course, once one has become liberated in oneself, this whole master-disciple thing drops away. Jesus became whole in himself, without reference to others, without dependence upon masters such as John the Baptist.

But here in this saying we can see that a part of Jesus still has that great respect and love that one has for the masters that have helped one along the way. And that love remains even after enlightenment. And so here Jesus is saying, there is no one, no one higher than John the Baptist. No one born of a woman, no human being, is above John the Baptist. This is just saying, John is a great master. That's all. Jesus is showing his respect for someone who had helped him find his own truth.

But Jesus goes on: whichever one of you comes to be a child will be acquainted with the kingdom and will become superior to John. I don't know about superior, but at least equal to John, that's my feeling. And look at the words that Jesus chooses, so beautiful – whichever one of you comes to be a child. You see, a child, at least when it comes into the world as a baby, is in an enlightened state. It's in its natural state, not yet corrupted, not yet full of nonsense.

But of course, over the years, with conditioning, the whole mess begins to accumulate. And the child slowly comes to be separated, or at least feel itself separated, from the rest of existence. And actually, the spiritual journey is one of returning to that childlike state of innocence and vulnerability, openness to life – unquestioning, as to whether things are right or wrong, good or bad – just open and accepting of all that is.

And that is enlightenment: to live in a state of openness with the rest of existence. This is the kingdom. The kingdom is existence, as it is, seen through innocent eyes. 

And so here Jesus, having proclaimed the masterfulness of John the Baptist, says, any of you can also reach this exalted state, by becoming as a child once more.