There is some historical evidence that Joseph of Arimathea traveled to England with young Jesus. Some available historical records show that Joseph and Jesus made several journeys to England. Joseph was a rich merchant and may have owned tin mines in England near Cornwall.
Luke 2:40-47
40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast,
43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,
44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.
47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Jesus and his supposed Great Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea - Presentation (2-GG)
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Isaiah 53:8-10. NKJV (Prophesy)
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
Bible Character Joseph of Arimathea - Bible Characters
Jesus and his supposed Great Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea - Presentation (3-GG)
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Jesus is betrayed by Judas -
Matthew 26:47-50 47 While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”
49 Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
The false charges against Jesus (Joseph of Arimathea did not vote to charge Jesus)
Luke 23:50-51
50 Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
51 (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom:
Matthew 26:59-66 59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death,
60and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward
61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”
62 The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”
63 But Jesus stayed silent. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
66 What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!”
Peter Denies that he knows Christ, 3 times -
Matthew 26:74-75
74 Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Then he went out and wept bitterly.
Jesus and his supposed Great Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea - Presentation (4-GG)
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Mark 15:21 21 They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
Jesus and his supposed Great Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea - Presentation (5-GG)
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The Crucifixion
Luke 23:33 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Galatians 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
Jesus and his supposed Great Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea - Presentation (6-GG)
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Joseph of Arimathea takes custody of Jesus body and prepares Jesus body for burial.
John 19:38-42
38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
Mark 15:42-47
42 When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for God’s Kingdom, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.
44 Pilate marveled if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long.
45 When he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
46 He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
47 Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.
Jesus and his supposed Great Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea - Presentation (7-GG)
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Christ's return after the Resurrection to greet His Disciples in Galilee.
Matthew 28:16-20
16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted.
18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
This completes our presentation of Jesus and Joseph of Arimathea.
Please watch for our next presentation, as a continuation of the
Love series, based on 1 Corinthians 13, arriving soon.
