By Fr. Hedwig Lewis, SJ —
Introduction
Henry van Dyke’s, ‘The Story of The Other Wise Man’, is a small classic of its kind. It was first read out at a Christmas Day service in a New York Presbyterian church. Since then, it has been circulated the world over, and has been translated in at least 13 languages. Its underlying theme reflects the message of the Cross: “some kinds of failure are better than success!”
Four Wise Men
Tradition has it that Three Wise Men from the East travelled to Bethlehem in search of the Messiah. Van Dyke tells the story of a fourth Wise Man, aged 40, named Artaban, who did the same. The four were Magi – that is, scholars, astrologers, and physicians. They also were friends, and followers of Zoroaster. They meet one day to discuss the appearance of a new star in the heavens, and thus come upon the prophecy of Balaam: “A Star will come forth out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.”
They decide to travel together to Jerusalem, to see and worship the newborn King of Israel. Artaban, sells his house and possessions and buys some precious jewels – a sapphire, a ruby and a pearl – as gifts for the King.
The four decide to meet at a Temple from which to commence the arduous journey. Artaban sets out eagerly to join the other three. However, while on his way, he comes across a sick and dying Hebrew exile abandoned on the road. Artaban, an extremely kind-hearted man, stops to take care of the man. Before he sets out again, the Hebrew, in gratitude, gives him a valuable piece of information: The prophets had foretold that the Messiah was to be born, not in Jerusalem but in Bethlehem.
When Artaban arrives at the Temple, he finds a note from the three other Magi saying that they were tired of waiting for him and had proceeded on their journey. He must follow them through the desert. To be on the safe side, Artaban sells his sapphire, buys some camels and provisions, and begins the long journey.
Artabans’ Detour
As the story goes, Artaban never does catch up with the others. He arrives at Bethlehem alone and weary but full of hope. The streets are deserted, so he enters the open door of a low stone cottage. He finds a young mother singing a lullaby. She tells him that the other Magi had been there three days earlier, had visited the lodging of Joseph of Nazareth, and had disappeared suddenly. The woman invites Artaban to dinner.
While he is eating, some soldiers from Herod’s palace rush there, their swords dripping with blood, because they were killing all male infants. Artaban pleads with the captain to spare the life of the tiny child in the house, and offers a ruby in exchange. The soldiers leave without hurting the boy.
Upon enquiries, Artaban learns that Joseph has fled to Egypt with his wife and new-born child. Artaban follows in hot pursuit. He makes his way to Alexandria and confers with a Hebrew Rabbi who is well-versed in the prophecies of old. The Rabbi informs Artaban “the King you are seeking is not to be found in a palace…. Those who seek Him will do well to look among the poor and lowly, the sorrowful and oppressed.” Artaban does just that. For thirty-three years he wanders among people who are poor, sick, sorrowful, forsaken, oppressed… and serves them.
Artaban and Jesus
Worn and weary, on the threshold of death, he returns to Jerusalem, in one last effort to find the King. He notices an unusual commotion and inquires what’s going on. He is told that people are rushing to Golgotha, a hillock outside the walls of the city, where a man called Jesus of Nazareth was being crucified because he claimed he was the Son of God and King of the Jews. Artaban instinctively feels this is the King of Kings whom he had spent most of his life looking for.
So Artaban joins the crowd making for the site of the crucifixion. He is determined to ransom the man’s life with his precious pearl. On his way, however, he comes across a young girl being dragged by soldiers, to be sold into slavery because of the heavy debts her father, who had died, had failed to pay. Suddenly the girl clings to his knees and begs him to rescue her. Artaban is in a fix. He is saving the pearl for a greater cause. Nevertheless, to help this girl would be a deed of love, he reasons. He offers the soldiers the pearl and frees the girl.
Just then darkness envelops the earth; there are tremors, and stonewalls begin to crumble. The soldiers flee in terror. Artaban and the girl crouch helpless beneath the wall of the Praetorium. He feels he has nothing more to live for now; his quest for the King has failed. Yet, somehow, he feels at peace within himself; he realises that he has done the best he could.
Another earthquake follows; a heavy tile, shaken from the roof, falls and strikes him on the temple. He rests his bleeding head on the young girl’s shoulder. She hears him murmuring: “Three-and-thirty years have I looked for thee; but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered to thee, my King.”
Then a mysterious sound, that of the “King’s” voice, assures him, “Verily I say unto thee, inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me.”
Artaban’s pale face lights up with great joy. His treasures were accepted, after all. He had, indeed, found the King. With a sigh of relief he breathes his last.
Fr Hedwig Lewis SJ is the author of “Christmas by Candlelight”. Published by <[email protected]>
This article has been retrieved from the author’s Christmas archive – The New Leader, 2009.