. . . Similarly, one might read the Gospel of Thomas 77 to be saying that when the Roman cleaved the Branch on the branch, the I Am was there. But since He unleashed his power at an unknown hour that no one knew (Dylan), the I Am was lain in a grave/sepulcher, such that if you move the stone, you'll find the I Am there too.
John
That interpretation isn't consistent with the thread of the repudiation of blood sacrifice which goes from Isaiah to Hosea to the gospels. Also, the stone of the grave wasn't raised (gospel of Thomas) or lifted up (gospel of John), it was rolled away.
The stone:
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith YHWH of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity[עון] of that land in one day.
Zechariah 3:9
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and YHWH hath laid on him the iniquity[עון] of us all.
Isaiah 53:6
And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity[עון] to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Zechariah 3:4
Lifted up (not rolled away):
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
John 3:14
In the context of the gospels, the serpents were the scribes and Pharisees
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
[Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Matthew 23:30-33
Son of man associates with repentance:
El [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Numbers 23:19
Repentance connects to the priests/Pharisees via Judas:
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that].
Matthew 27:3-4
.. and Judas connects to the crucified man via Peter:
Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
Acts 1:16
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Acts 1:20
Let their habitation be desolate; [and] let none dwell in their tents.
Psalms 69:25
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Psalms 69:21