Joseph of Arimathea–A Mysterious Hero

During my research for Issa–The Greatest Story Never Told I was inspired by the historical character of Joseph of Arimathea. The Bible describes him as the uncle of Mary. We know he bravely asked Pilate for the body of Jesus after the crucifixion, wrapping it in clean linen and placing it in his own tomb. Joseph is mentioned in all four Gospels: Matthew 27:57, Luke 23:50, Mark 15:43, and John 19:38.

My challenge was to imagine a man who must have been part of a deeply spiritual inner circle–a circle we are invited to partake of as we each realize the Christ-Consciousness or the Buddha-Consciousness within.

Some of my research came from George F. Jowett in his book, The Drama of the Lost Disciples. He writes, “Contrary to the common belief that Jesus was completely surrounded by enemies at that strange midnight trial, the light of recent findings prove it to have been very much otherwise…Today we know that the trial for life was fought out on the floor of the Sanhedrin with all the stormy violence of a bestial, prejudiced fury on one side and the granite uncompromising courage of the defence by men who knew that by the very act of their challenge they had signed and sealed their own death warrant.” (p. 13, Covenant Publishing Company Limited)

From this account, I wanted to develop a character with backbone and compassion. He is described in the Bible and Roman documents as wealthy. So I wanted to give him status but also the sincerity of a spiritual seeker.

I would be interested in your comments about Joseph of Arimathea and anything you know about him.

Responses

heavenbound

June 3, 2010

i recently read about the crucifixion of Christ and the appearance of Joseph also had me puzzled. the fact that he just appears and after putting the body of Christ in his tomb, he diappears again. what puzzles me mostly is that he came from wherever with only the intention of burying Christ! or so the Bible seems to suggest.

i would also like to know more about him.

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1. issanotes
  
  June 10, 2010
  
  I love your comment. It evokes the sense of mystery that I tried to portray in the character of Joseph of Arimathea. I believe there have always been (and always will be) souls who are striving on a spiritual path to realize their innate God-potential. I used the “Order of Melchizedek” to describe these seekers in ISSA. We find them throughout the ages–great saints and sages of East and West often working behind the scenes to raise humankind. I believe Joseph of Arimathea had a great level of courage, wisdom, and spiritual mastery to boldly ask for the body of Jesus. He was also a very wealthy merchant. Yet, he recognized the divinity in Jesus and the holy women and used his power and influence to support the revolution of consciousness Jesus brought to the western world. It makes me ponder what each of us are called to do.
  
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  1. benturner214
    
    August 27, 2016
    
    Guru Ma (ECP) mentions Joseph of Arimathea in “The Man Who Would Not Die” — during her interview with Leonard Nimoy (or with Nimoy’s producers. Nimoy played the Vulcan “Spock” on the original TV show “Star Trek.” He narrates the episode, but his voice is not heard during the segment featuring the interview with Mother [which occurs at the old TSL HQ in Camelot]).
    
    I am attempting to develop a transcript (of same interview) for TSL in Amsterdam as I do not believe one has been published by the Church, and I was asked to post it there. It is just a brief interview, but she discusses the Carpathian Mountains, Romania, and the Holy Grail as well. — BT.
    
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benturner214

August 27, 2016

Reblogged this on The Lotus Dispensation (New Thought spirituality) and commented:
I will be developing a transcript of “The Man Who Would Not Die,” which is the Leonard Nimoy interview with Mother (at Camelot). She mentions Joseph of Arimathea in that interview.

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