By Tom Thomas.
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Mt 2: 1-2
The Gospel of Mt 2:1-12 details the journey of the Magi as they leave the familiar, and undertake a long and arduous journey, braving many dangers on the way including Herod, in search of the Baby Jesus.
Over the centuries, the reinforcement in message that were three wise men bearing gifts of frankincense, myrrh and incense to meet the Saviour travelling great distances has become part of the Christmas tradition for long time. I still remember taking part in a school rendition of “We three kings “as a child. In particular, these lyrics come to mind:
“We Three Kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder Star”
But what if there were more than three wise men? Henry Van Dyke, Presbyterian Church pastor wrote in 1896 a magnificent short story about the other wise man, Artaban, who also wanted to undertake the journey to find the Saviour but was unable to join the other three Magi. Selling all that he had, he bought three precious items – a Saphire, a Ruby and a precious Pearl – and starts his journey to meet the Saviour. But he got derailed and encountered several situations along the way for 33 long years where he had to part with these three previous jewels to help total strangers in need – a dying man, saving the life of a child and preventing a girl from being sold into slavery.
Throughout his life Artaban continued to travel, collecting clues and searching for information about that Child to whom he would like to pay homage to and witness in person, never giving up his quest.
Finally, after thirty-three years, Artaban, now old and exhausted from his wanderings, arrived in Jerusalem. The city was captivated by a particular incident because a man, Jesus of Nazareth, was about to be executed for proclaiming himself the Son of God. Thus, when Artaban believed that he had failed his life’s Mission, at the very last moment of life, Artaban found himself in front of the Child he had so sought and at the highest and most dramatic moment of His mission in the world.
Artaban, on his deathbed, speaks with a very sweet voice that is addressed to him in his last moments, whilst he regrets that he could never meet the Saviour whom he spent all his life searching for and offer Him the precious gifts that are now gone. He hears these words:
“When I was hungry, you fed me, when I was thirsty, you gave me a drink, when I was naked, you dressed me. When I was homeless, you took me in.”
Artaban answers, “It is not so, my Savior. I have never seen you hungry, nor thirsty. I have never dressed you. I have never brought you into my house. For 33 years, I have sought you, but I have never seen your face and I have never helped you, my King. I have never seen you until today.”
“When you did these things for the last, for the smallest of my brothers – you did them for me.”
This magical story reminds us that every gesture of love and of reaching out to the poor, the hungry and the thirsty—total strangers in need—is reaching out to Jesus. We find Him in these actions. Not just at Christmas. But always.
A close friend of mine passed away in a road accident recently while traveling by foot on a busy weekday morning on his way to meet his brother. He slipped and suffered a head injury. In the last moments of his life, he was taken to the hospital by Good Samaritans, total strangers passing by. They could have continued in their way without getting involved. But they stopped. And helped him. I learn from reading the story of the Other Wise Man and the relevant Gospel texts, that such selfless actions are what bring one to Jesus. Just like how Artaban helped three total strangers in desperate need with all the precious gifts he had kept for Jesus. In helping them, he found Him.
Can I be more like Artaban, who was selfless in giving completely to the needy those precious gifts he had?
In conclusion, these quotes summarise the learnings of the life of Artaban:
“He knew that all was well, because he had done the best that he could, from day to day. He had been true to the light that had been given to him. He had looked for more. And if he had not found it, if a failure was all that came out of his life, doubtless that was the best that was possible. He had not seen the revelation of “life everlasting, incorruptible and immortal.” But he knew that even if he could live his earthly life over again, it could not be otherwise than it had been.”
― Henry van Dyke, The Story of the Other Wise Man
“Because I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you hosted me, naked and you dressed me, sick and you visited me, imprisoned and you came to see me. Then shall the righteous answer him, Lord, when have we seen thee hungry, and fed thee, thirsty, and given thee a drink? When we saw you a stranger, and we took you in, or naked, and dressed you? And when we saw you sick or in prison and came to see you? And the king will say to them, Verily, I say unto you, every time ye have done these things to one of my younger brethren, ye have done it to me.” Mt 25: 35-40