Joseph of Arimathea
Most people know him as the man who, according to the Gospels, donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after Jesus was crucified. Joseph of Arimathea is venerated as a saint by the Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox and some Anglican churches. But we shall see, as Paul Harvey says, "the rest of the story. Let's talk about "Uncle Joe."
Joseph (of Arimathea) was the younger brother of the father of Mary.
He was also one of the men in the world wealthest that is why he could get an immediate appointment with Pilate and ask for the rights of the body of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-60). Money talks baby! He also said that Uncle Joe was a member of the Sanhedrin and a close adviser to Jesus.
Joseph is also mentioned in many of the non-canonical and apocryphal Acts as the accounts of Pilate, as the title medieval Gospel of Nicodemus and Joseph Story, and the early history of the church as Irenaeus (125 - 189), Hippolytus ( 170 - 236), Tertullian (155 - 222) and Eusebius (260 - 340) does not add more details in the canonical accounts. He also reported that Joseph was probably one of the Seventy Apostles appointed in Luke 10.
Where was Jesus for 28 years (2-30)?
Many legends he in eastern India and Tibet. Others have him in England with Uncle Joe and mother Mary. Maybe it was both. It was perhaps neither. However, let's look at some historical interest.
Apocryphal legend provides us with a story alleging that accompanied the Apostle Philip Joseph, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene (there is that woman again, you know the news to start) and others on a preaching mission to Gaul. Lazarus and Mary stayed in Marseilles, while the rest went north.
In the English Channel, San Felipe sent Joseph, with twelve disciples in order to establish Christianity in the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire: the island of Great Britain. Many historians say that this happened just three years after the death of Jesus Christ. It was said that Joseph achieved his wealth in the trading of metals, and in the course of conducting his business, probably met with United Kingdom, at least the south-west of it.
The connection between Glastonbury and religious centers such as Jerusalem can not be overlooked.
The Druids (as soon as 1800BCE) held "belief" that it seemed almost a Jewish beliefs. Both groups were in search of a savior, a Messiah. The Druids called their savior (before Jesus now) Yesu. In fact, one of the main arguments in the Council of Nicea was the name Constantine wanted to draw Jesus. The Druids also had a school full of mystery Kaballah teachings. Gnosticism lived despite Constantine!
It is said that Uncle Joe lived some 50 years after the death of Jesus and his contributions to Jesus is called "golden age of Christianity." Mary said that ben buried at Glastonbury in a former church school. The grave stone of Joseph said: "I came to Britain after Christ was buried. Taught. I rest. "The apostle John was the last to die and he was buried at Glastonbury in the mature age of 101.
Last but not least, most historians give credit to Uncle Joe for the establishment of the first Christian church in Britain (not Jerusalem). Give credit to the Vatican to officially recognize Glastonbury, England as the first church and three years after the death of Jesus. God continues to reveal things to those who do not know it all.
And that is "the rest of the story.
