| Most people know him as the man who, | | | | At the English Channel, St. Philip sent |
| according to the Gospels, donated his own | | | | Joseph, with twelve disciples, to establish |
| prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after | | | | Christianity in the most far-flung corner of |
| Jesus was crucified. Joseph of Arimathea is | | | | the Roman Empire: the Island of Britain. Many |
| venerated as a saint by the Catholic, | | | | historians say that this happened just three |
| Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox and some Anglican | | | | years after the death of Jesus, the Christ. |
| churches. But, let's look, as Paul Harvey | | | | It was said that Joseph achieved his wealth |
| says, "at the rest of the story". Let's talk | | | | in the metals trade, and in the course of |
| "Uncle Joe". | | | | conducting his business, he probably became |
| | | | acquainted with Britain, at least the |
| Joseph (from Arimathea) was the younger | | | | south-western parts of it. |
| brother of Mary's father. | | | | |
| | | | The connection between Glastonbury and |
| He was also one of the wealthest men IN THE | | | | Jerusalem as centers of religious can't be |
| WORLD which is why he could get an immediate | | | | overlooked. |
| appointment with Pilate and ask for the | | | | |
| rights to the body of Jesus (Matthew | | | | The Druids (as early as 1800BCE) held |
| 27:57-60). Money talks baby! It's also said | | | | "beliefs" that looked almost the same a |
| that Uncle Joe was a member of the Sanhedrin | | | | Judaic beliefs. Both groups were looking for |
| and a close counselor to Jesus. | | | | a savior, a Messiah. The Druids called their |
| | | | savior (before Jesus now) Yesu. In fact, one |
| Joseph is also referenced in many of the | | | | of the biggest arguments at the Council of |
| apocryphal and non-canonical accounts such as | | | | Nicea was the NAME that Constantine wanted to |
| the Acts of Pilate, given the medieval title | | | | call Jesus. The Druids also had a mystery |
| Gospel of Nicodemus and The Narrative of | | | | school steeped in Kaballah teachings. |
| Joseph, and early church historians such as | | | | Gnosticism lived on in spite of Constantine! |
| Irenaeus (125 - 189), Hippolytus (170 - 236), | | | | |
| Tertullian (155 - 222), and Eusebius (260 - | | | | It's said that Uncle Joe lived about 50 years |
| 340) added details not in the canonical | | | | after the death of Jesus and his |
| accounts. It's also reported that Joseph was | | | | contributions to Jesus were called the |
| likely one of the Seventy Apostles appointed | | | | "Golden Age Of Christianity". Mary is said to |
| in Luke 10. | | | | have ben buried in Glastonbury in an old |
| | | | church school. Joseph's tomb stone reads "I |
| Where was Jesus for 28+ years (from 2-30)? | | | | came to Briton after I buried Christ. I |
| | | | taught. I rest." The apostle John was the |
| Many legends have him in the East in India | | | | last to die and he too was buried in |
| and Tibet. Others have Him in England with | | | | Glastonbury at the ripe old age of 101. |
| Uncle Joe and mother Mary. Maybe he was in | | | | |
| both. Maybe He was in neither. But, let's | | | | Last but not least, most historians give |
| look at some historical interests. | | | | credit to Uncle Joe for establishing the |
| | | | first "Christian church" in Britain (not |
| Apocryphal legend supplies us with a story | | | | Jerusalem). Give credit to the Vatican for |
| claiming that Joseph accompanied the Apostle | | | | officially recognizing Glastonbury, England |
| Philip, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene (there's | | | | as the first church- three years after the |
| that woman again- stories will get started | | | | death of Jesus. God is still revealing things |
| you know) & others on a preaching mission to | | | | to those who don't know it all. |
| Gaul. Lazarus & Mary stayed in Marseilles, | | | | |
| while the others travelled north. | | | | And that's SOME of "the rest of the story". |
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