Joseph of Arimathea : a returning servant

                                    

The hallways of scripture are inundated with Josephs that come at crucial moments of the narrative of God’s “work and glory”. Joseph of Egypt, robed in his beautiful coat of many colours walks in as a powerful saviour figure and rescues the covenant people in time of need. Joseph the Carpenter becomes Messiah's guardian and ensures His safe birth and survival from the massacre of Herod. Joseph Smith, a simple farmer boy,  stands towering, having done for the salvation of man nearly as much as the Lord HImself…Yet, there is another Joseph, at times forgotten by us, but certainly, not by the Lord, that also plays a significant role in the annals of divinity.His name is Joseph of Arimathea. 

The scriptures tell us very little about him. Like a footnote, barely visible in the sacred texts, he stands, wearing a cloak of obscurity. No accolades, no recognition… Yet his character, discipleship and contributions are equally bright as other planetary bodies that emerge at the appointed times on the orbit of Our Father's Plan. He too is a luminary that dispels darkness and stands with the Lord when few dare! 

Christ’s family member

As Christ’s great uncle on Mary’s side, according to Talmud, Joseph knew the Lord very intimately. He probably interacted with Him at family gatherings and Jewish holidays. After the passing of Joseph the Carpenter, who was significantly older than Mary, he most likely became Christ’s father figure. It is claimed  that Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy merchant in metals and took young Jesus with him on his business trips to England and India.   

Britain led the world at this time with its tin mining and Joseph of Arimathea was referred to by the Romans as 'Nobilis Decurio' or Minister of Mines to the Roman Government. Christ’s presence in Britain, “the land of the covenant”, is captured in copious legends and oral traditions that are too many to dismiss. Truly, His feet did walk “upon England’s mountains green…”

Christ’s ministry among the people of India is also well documented in the ancient archives of Tibetan monks, where He, known as “Issa” lived between the ages of 12 and 30, “the lost years”. While this aleigation might seem speculative, it is consistent with the pattern of ministering to His “other sheep”.

Spending significant amounts of time with the Lord, Joseph of Arimathea received a gift of His presence very few did. It is no wonder that back in Israel, he, although not one of the twelve, was His secret, yet devoted disciple and follower. His tremendous love for the Lord was forged over many years in the mines of Cornwall and elsewhere. And at the right time, it bloomed beautifully and miraculously, like a staff.

Standing up to those in eclesiastic authority 

Perhaps the most pertinent and applicable to us notion is that Joseph, being a prominent member of the Sanhedrin council, boldly stands up to those in ecclesiatic authority in  an attempt to save the Lord’s life.

The pattern of those that stand with and for Christ opposing the ones in the position of priesthood power evades us. Our conditioning has been to follow, fully trust and comply with the direction of those we deem “appointed by God.” But the pattern persists, whether we choose to recognize it or rationalise it away. Abinadi versus king Noah, the lonely Alma  amidst the priests, Christ facing Caiphas, to name just a few of the ones we know…

Curiously, the members of the Sanhedrin  attempted to use allegiance to Caesar  as their leverage in trying to convince Pilate that Christ was worthy of crucifiction. “If you release Jesus, you are no friend of Cæsar, because he calls himself Son of God, and king. And if you free him, he becomes a king, and will take Cæsar’s kingdom.” (Gospel of Nicodemus, ch.9). Aligning  themselves with “ principalities, powers, and  the rulers of the darkness of this world” they linked arms with “spiritual wickedness in high places” to crucify their God (Epheisans 6:12, emphasis added). Thus engaging in, promoting and supporting evil  as an excuse to conform  to government officials and be “law abiding citizens”  is at least two millennia old. 

Opposing the majority, Joseph of Arimathea, puts his life and reputation on the line. Having failed to preserve the Lord’s life, Joseph rescues His body from  being ignominiously left to decompose on the cross or be eaten by vultures. Along with Nicodemus he places the body in his own tomb, providing an extravagant hundred pounds of myrrh, a regally generous  gesture, fit for the parting gift for his Lord and King (John 19:39).   

Imprisonment and exile

According to the Apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, after Christ’s burial, the members of the Sanhedrin imprisoned Joseph for his affiliation with and support of the Savior (Gospel of Nichodemus ch.12).Waiting for the Sabbath to end, they left him in the prison cell. It’s not likely that any Nutella was provided to go on his crust of lechem, or bread, while he was there, if bread was involved at all…Thankfully, the apocryphal record reveals that the Lord Himself came and set Joseph free from the very much undeserved jail time. 

Like most of Christ’s followers post crucifixion, Joseph was forced into exile from his homeland. Yet facing imprisonment and becoming a  pariah among his own, did not deter Joseph from standing up for what he knew was right and true. Herein, is another valuable lesson and example for those of us today, trying to face the majority and not shrink. 

There are countless reasons to believe  that Joseph returned to his much familiar England which began the spread of Christianity in the British Isles. He went to Glastonbury in Somerset, in close proximity to the tin mines of Cornwall, his old stomping grounds.

The returning servants

The nature of our Fahter’s “marvellous work and wonder” in end times has not been the focus of our Sunday school lessons or doctrine manuals. It has been largely interpreted to be finite, completed and different from what it really is. And that is purposeful. 

Expounding on the parable of the wheat and the tares that refers to the “sowers” of the original church, the Lord  addresses His disciples of the 1840s, as if they were one and the same (D&C 86).This seemingly anachronistic conflation is quite common in scripture, where what appears to be a specific reference to one has multiple applications.

 But it doesn't end there. Talking to Joseph and his associates, the Lord places them within the time frame of the “restoration of all things”( D&C 86:10), a future event for us and certainly for them, as well as within the apocalyptic setting of the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by John the Revelator (D&C 88:85). 

What we see here is a curious amalgamation of the original twelve,  the servants of the 1800s as well as the labourers of the latter part of the last days ushering in the Lord’s Second Coming. How can this be? How can a work of restoration be resumed by those who have passed on?

The doctrine of Multiple Probations provides a beautiful solution to this seeming contradiction, as those who have come at first, return to resume what they started at last (D&C 88:84). And if God is to restore “all things” and bring back Joseph Smith, once a simple farmer boy from New England, then why not Joseph of Egypt? Why not Joseph of Arimathea?

The powerful yet unknown Josephs, the unrecognised saintly Enoch, the “sell-your-farm” Martins, the “write-for-the-Lord-all -day” Olivers are all to return back on the scene. They come, riveted to the cause of Zion !!! Possessed by the desire to do God’s will in everything, the only rudder that seems to steer their lives and fuel their every breath and existence. 

The undaunted Esters, the fierce Ziporas, the loyal-to-the-end Emmas sacrifice their all, waiting, like Joseph of Arimathea, “expectantly for the kingdom of God'' (Mark 15:43). No recognition, no praise...Following but the Son, like a field of glorious sunflowers, rejected for the most part, overlooked  by sophisticated florists as unfit for decadent “flower arrangements”... Quietly going about “the Father’s business”, they bless, heal, prepare, gather and pre-gather, all the while remaining hidden from the world in Christ ( D&C 86:9). Veiled, perhaps, even from themselves for a time, but inseparable from who and Whose they are.

Who and where Joseph of Arimathea is today, remains a mystery, much like at first...But it is certain that he, along with the other servants, being but a concealed footnote to most,  will leave an indelible mark in the narrative of God as a powerful Chapter Heading!