Object: a mask

How many of you know a rich man? I mean a really rich man. Today you are going to meet a very rich man. I don’t know how rich he was, but I know he was a man of great wealth and property. I want you to meet this man, but you must pretend with me as you have done before. The man that I am talking about is behind the mask. His name is Joseph of Arimathea and he was part of the special group of people who made decisions about his government and his church. He was a very powerful man. I want you to listen to his story. I know that you will like him.

[Raise the mask.] My name is Joseph, and I come from a small town near Jerusalem called Arimathea. I knew all of the people who sit in high places. I have been to King Herod’s palace and to the home of the chief priest. Once in a w…