From Fire to Foxes: Gospel of Thomas Sayings 77 to 86 on Truth, Power, and Divine Perception

The following are my personal reflections on sayings 77 through 86 from the Gospel of Thomas. I recorded these on the 12th of November 2022, as part of my ongoing exploration into the mystical teachings of Yeshua (Jesus). As always, take what resonates. Leave the rest. This is a fire walk through the soul.

(77) 

Jesus says:

(1) “I am the light that is over all. I am the All. The All came forth out of me. And to me the All has come.”(2) “Split a piece of wood — I am there.(3) Lift the stone, and you will find me there.”

Stephen James’s reflection:

This is Christ consciousness speaking loud and clear. The light of God—Truth itself—is in everything. It’s in nature. It’s in wood. It’s under the stone. It’s not locked away in some temple or only accessible through a priest or politician. It is everywhere. And the second you forget that, you’ve already lost your way.

Don’t follow false gods dressed in billion-dollar suits on TV. Christ is not in the halls of Davos or on the board of Big Pharma. He’s under the stone. In the tree. In your breath. The truth is in all things.

(78) 

Jesus says:

(1) “Why did you go out to the countryside? To see a reed shaken by the wind,(2) and to see a person dressed in soft clothing [like your] kings and your great persons?(3) They are dressed in soft clothing and will not be able to recognise the truth.”

Stephen James’s reflection:

Yeshua’s getting sharp here. He’s pointing to the absurdity of being dazzled by rulers and elites. You leave the peace of nature and wander into the city, only to be hypnotised by men in soft clothes pretending they’re gods.

But real power doesn’t need to shout. It doesn’t need velvet robes. It speaks through the wind and the water and the rawness of your own bones. True kingship isn’t found in Parliament. It’s found in presence.

(79)

(1) A woman in the crowd said to him: “Hail to the womb that carried you and to the breasts that fed you.”(2) He said to [her]: “Hail to those who have heard the word of the Father (and) have truly kept it.(3) For there will be days when you will say: ‘Hail to the womb that has not conceived and to the breasts that have not given milk.’”

Stephen James’s reflection:

This is a deeper one. At first glance, it seems like praise for the feminine—but Yeshua redirects it. He doesn’t dismiss the woman’s blessing. He expands it. It’s not just about physical birth. It’s about spiritual rebirth.

And when the world gets dark—as it has in recent years—there are moments when you realise how sacred it is to protect the innocent. To not give birth into a world of lies. But even in that, there is still hope through Truth.

(80) 

Jesus says:

(1) “Whoever has come to know the world has found the (dead) body.(2) But whoever has found the (dead) body, of him the world is not worthy.”

Stephen James’s reflection:

The dead body here is the illusion of the world—the egoic system built on fear, control, and separation. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. And when you see the rot, you’re no longer fooled by the theatre.

You become a threat to the machine. You start building something eternal.

(81) 

Jesus says:

(1) “Whoever has become rich should be king.(2) And the one who has power should renounce (it).”

Stephen James’s reflection:

This saying carries a paradox. Yeshua might be pointing out how power and wealth often flip roles. If you’re truly rich—meaning rich in soul—you should lead. But if you’re holding onto power out of ego, you should let it go. The deeper message here? True kingship is service, not domination. Renounce the control, and rule from love.

(82) 

Jesus says:

(1) “The person who is near me is near the fire.(2) And the person who is far from me is far from the kingdom.”

Stephen James’s reflection:

Truth burns. Proximity to Yeshua means being near the flame. If you want real awakening, you have to walk through fire. Not because God is punishing you—but because Truth melts away the bullshit. It purifies. If you’re far from Christ, you’re just coasting in lukewarm numbness.

(83) 

Jesus says:

(1) “The images are visible to humanity, but the light within them is hidden in the image.(2) {} The light of the Father will reveal itself, but his image is hidden by his light.”

Stephen James’s reflection:

This is one of the deeper mystical teachings. Everything you see is just a shell. A symbol. The real Light is hidden in and behind it all. It’s not about escaping form—it’s about seeing through it.

The divine image is cloaked in its own radiance. You need inner vision, not outer religion.

(84) 

Jesus says:

(1) “When you see your likeness you are full of joy.(2) But when you see your likenesses that came into existence before you — they neither die nor become manifest — how much will you bear?”

Stephen James’s reflection:

To see your divine reflection is a holy moment. But to encounter all the soul fragments, karmic echoes, and ancestral blueprints you’re carrying… that can be overwhelming. How much of your cosmic inheritance can you hold?

Christ is inviting you to see your eternal self. But also to acknowledge how much shadow you’re here to clear.

(85)

Jesus says:

(1) “Adam came from a great power and a great wealth. But he did not become worthy of you.(2) For if he had been worthy, (then) [he would] not [have tasted] death.”

Stephen James’s reflection:

Adam here symbolises the old human—the one who chose illusion over integration. He had divine origin, but not divine embodiment. He chose separation. And in that separation, he tasted death.

But Christ calls us beyond the Adamic pattern. We’re here to transcend it, not repeat it.

(86) 

Jesus says:

(1) “[Foxes have] their holes and birds have their nest.(2) But the son of man has no place to lay his head down (and) to rest.”

Stephen James’s reflection:

The Son of Man—Christ consciousness—doesn’t rest in the structures of this world. It has no home in the systems of control. The soul has no nest in the matrix.

This is the reality of being awake: it’s often uncomfortable. But in that discomfort is a deeper rest. Not in a bed. But in God.

Final Thoughts

The fire of Truth continues to burn through these teachings. Saying 77 anchors us in the omnipresence of Christ. Saying 86 ends with the reminder that this world—this distorted version of it—offers no true rest for the awakened one. But don’t let that depress you. Let it liberate you.

You are the light under the stone. You are the breath in the forest. You are what the world forgot but is now remembering.

Let’s keep going.