gospel of Thomas 52

His disciples said to him, "Twenty-four prophets spoke in Israel, and all of them spoke in you."

He said to them, "You have omitted the one living in your presence and have spoken (only) of the dead."

Here the disciples were trying to compliment Jesus, perhaps flatter him a little. We have to remember that Jesus was a Jew. Jesus was talking, and a handful of disciples were there listening. And the disciples here are comparing Jesus to the great prophets of the Jewish tradition. Twenty-four of them had spoken in Israel. And here they're saying, that they can hear those prophets, the voice of those prophets, in Jesus. They're saying, yes, Jesus, you are somehow connected with the prophets of the past. You are also a prophet, is the implication.

But the focus is on authenticating Jesus with reference to these dead prophets. And Jesus isn't having any of it. No master is concerned about those that have gone before him. It's all finished for the master. It doesn't matter how many prophets there have been in the past – they all become irrelevant.

So Jesus replies, basically saying, look, you're speaking about these dead prophets, but here's one living in your presence. When you're with a living master, forget about the rest. Focus all the energy on this living expression that is in front of your eyes. Soak up the energy. Immerse yourself in it. This is what Jesus is saying – forget about the dead.

The words of the dead prophets may be of use when no living master is nearby. Then, of course, we can resort to reading, and listening to recordings, of those that are not present. But when a living master is present, it's time to put away the books, the audio recordings. Drop all that. Live with the intensity of the moment.

And so Jesus here is reminding the disciples: the master doesn't need reference to other masters who have gone before. That's not the way it works. If you find yourself with a living master, forget about the rest, at least for the time you are with that living master.