12. And Did Those Feet in Ancient Times?
In 1808, British poet and painter William Blake wrote a poem entitled And Did Those Feet in Ancient Times? (later entitled Jerusalem) Blake, though a self-professed Christian, was a virulent opponent of all forms of organized religion, especially the Church of England. His poem, which languished in relative obscurity for more than a century, tells of Jesus, still a young boy, traveling to England in the company of Joseph of Arimathea. Today the poem is known as the song Jerusalem, sung at Royal Weddings and during the funeral service for Princess Diana. According to the poem and its writer Joseph of Arimathea was traveling on business (remember, Luke recorded him as a wealthy man).
According to the legend involved with the story, Joseph was Jesus’ great uncle, as Mary was his niece. After the death of Joseph, unrecorded in the gospels, Joseph of Arimathea assumed responsibility for the raising of his niece’s sons. They traveled together on at least one trip to Great Britain, with their destination being modern-day Glastonbury, the Avalon of the legends of King Arthur. The first Glastonbury visit was but one of many according to Arthurian legends, and some believe that there are cryptic clues in the gospel accounts, such as John the Baptist’s uncertainty over Jesus’ – his own cousin – identity, indicating the possibility of a long absence (John 1:33).