​​The Spiritual Centre

Jesus in Britain

Author: Bruce Clifton and Sonia Parker

This is an extract from our book published 31st August 2018

Joseph of Arimithea  (Man of Mystery)

Joseph of Arimathea is the mysterious man who asked Pontius Pilate for permission to remove the body of Jesus Christ from the cross. He was a quiet man who did not seek glory, little is known of him. He stayed out of the limelight and by doing so, did as he pleased without fuss. We know he was Jewish and either a close relative of Jesus, or well connected with people in authority at the time of the crucifixion. It was an established ruling that only a close male relative could get permission to remove a body from a cross. Forced by public demand Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus to crucifixion; everything surrounding the crucifixion was under public scrutiny. Yet this mysterious unknown man Joseph, gained permission to take the body and remove it to his private sepulchre.
Not only was he given permission to do this by the Roman authorities, but there were no recorded objections by the Jewish communities. These same communities with their combined power demanded Roman Governor; “Pontius Pilate“ put Jesus to the public vote, then pass sentence of Crucifixion.
The intense public demands surrounding the Crucifixion; the public hostility brought them out in their hundreds to see Jesus forced to carry his own cross along the route to his death…
It was Joseph of Arimathea who removed his body from the cross, Nicodemus and John that lowered it to the ground. Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, Ezekiel and a servant helped move the body to Josephs waiting sepulchre.

We know that after the age of twenty Joseph was recognised as a respected and established business man. He was also a merchant who traded with both the Jews and the Romans. It is acknowledged that the Jewish elders, Rabbi’s and Priests often sought his advice as did the Roman dignitaries of that time.
As a young man at the age of fifteen he was seen by many; as his father’s son; son of Matthias a man of royal birth rite and of noble extraction. With Jerusalem being the main city, Matthias was a diplomat and man of supreme justice known for his authority and regal presence. Matthias was a formidable foe and a great ally; it is a fair assumption that Joseph would have had the best teachers providing his education and the most moral of role models to lead him by example.

The Jewish communities were fixed in their own beliefs with each group their own vices and their own pious point of view. It is recognised piety was not a trait of Joseph, his father was a learned man; an ambassador and a successful and reputable diplomat. We assume Joseph would not have expressed opinion and instead took an unbiased and neutral stance. This caused much controversy but, trust amongst Jewish factions. It is conceivable the Romans trusted him and formed business relationships with him because of this.

At seventeen Joseph is described as suffering from teenage angst. Having researched “The Pharisees”, “The Sadducees” and “The Essenes” he was an authority on Jewish law and the application of religious ceremony. Joseph had a keen mind, an eagerness to understand people. His father Matthias as diplomat was himself respected within local communities. Joseph was authoritive, his memory and affection for learning made him popular with the elders and wise men surrounding him. The historians of the time noted his memory and his ability to learn is superior to most. Being able to walk with Priests and Rabbi’s from all sections of the Jewish communities with ease, demonstrates his diplomatic skills.
At this point in his young life he heard of one 'Malachi' who lived a solitary existence in the desert. This man "clothed himself with nothing but what the trees brought forward, he ate whatever was freely yielded and washed often by day and by night in cold water."
Malachi as recorded would appear to be a Druid of Celtish descent the clue being according to the gospels: “he knew how to clothe him-self from the fruits of the trees and fed on nothing but what was freely yielded.”
Joseph spent four years living with this Malachi. Malachi and Malik translated, with the latter meaning a leader of men, master or king of kings. It is correct this is the single most important part of his life to date and meeting and living with Malachi for this duration changed his philosophy and outlook on life forever. Joseph was from a wealthy back background. His education provided by the best teachers money and influence could afford? Yet he knew his own mind, had the self confidence to make this decision to spend a majority of his time and “live with Malachi.” He lived with Malachi for four years, but this is a literal interpretation, the fact is: Joseph was his father’s son and he was building a business whilst also spending a lot of time with Malachi.

The Roman navy all but destroyed the Phoenician merchant navy; Romans were all about control and power with little consequence to the trail of devastation and poverty left behind. Merchant seamen of the east and the orient were trading by land and following trading routes overland; but this meant fewer goods were being transported, fewer profits for the merchants and a higher poverty level for the public; and more people becoming dependent on the Roman Empire. Joseph created links with merchants from the Orient, he had taken advantage of the demise of the Phoenician Merchant Navy; re-established trade routes around the Mediterranean and the Eastern oceans, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Black Sea beyond the Persian Gulf to the Orient. Silks and spices were in demand by the Roman Aristocracy, also what we know today as the domestic cat was gaining what is to become an everlasting infatuation amongst the Roman Aristocratic Women. Joseph of Arimathea could fulfil this gap in the marketplace and provide the goods the Romans desired; he also helped remove the poverty from merchant seamen and brought prosperity to their families once more. But Joseph was still seeking spiritual fulfilment and still “living” with Malachi. Arrangements were made for him to visit Briton and upon discussing the idea with his father it he would take the young Jesus and Lazarus with him. This voyage had many opportunities including meeting Bran, a successful trader; giving Anna news of her family; meeting the Grove from which Malachi originated and also to trade with the people of Briton and creating future opportunity for trade. Joseph looked forward to this new challenge and looked forward to meeting Druids of the Grove where Malachi came from; experiencing the custom and practice of which he learned held great appeal.
This also allowed the people surrounding Jesus to calm down and relax; with Jesus out of public scrutiny the area would settle and restore calm. Jesus aged six was attracting unwanted attention, at just six years of age he was performing healing miracles and speaking beyond his years in public. Aged six he had a natural affinity with animals, wild dogs lost their aggression when Jesus was close, the domestic cats that the Romans loved so much found their way to Jesus when he was in their vicinity. He had a spiritual presence surrounding him and people saw this, the elderly loved him and the sick understood him. People who were not long of this earth recognised him for who he was, they found peace in his presence.

The Phoenician traders knew the route to Briton, they had established routes used for centuries. Knowledge handed down from generation to generation. The Romans may have defeated their navy and taken control of all shipping but the inherited secret knowledge was passed on. 

The Veniti people from Brest were allies and against the Roman dominance of the seas. These merchants also built ships with the hull made from tin and copper, their ships were stream lined and could cope with high seas and storms. Their ships were the only ships in the world that could outrun a Roman galleon or turn into the wind and head for the open seas, all the Roman ships were shore huggers, in a storm they would head for the shore and protect themselves against the storm, the Roman ships did not cope well in open seas and the Veniti could take full advantage of the Roman misfortune. As the roman navy took more control of the West coast of Europe the Veniti ship builders transferred their industry to Briton, the traders and merchants also relocated to Briton. The coast line of Cornwall became a refuge for these merchants, with market towns forming in every bay; it became almost a refuge for deposed traders from the Mediterranean and the west coast of Europe. Once free of the Gibraltar Straits any ships getting out into the Atlantic during the calmer seas of the summer could make it easier by following the natural flow of the tide along the mouth of the Bay of Biscay and into the shores of Cornwall. 
   

Bran the Blessed

Joseph Part 2

Joseph Part 3

Book Shop

---