The Other
Wiseman
by Unknown Author
The other wiseman's name was
Artaban. He was one of the Magi and he lived in Persia. He was a man
of great wealth, great learning, and great faith. With his learned
companions he had searched the scriptures as to the time that the
Savior should be born. They knew that a new star would appear and it
was agreed between them that Artaban would watch from Persia and the
others would observe the sky from Babylon.
On the night he believed the sign
to be given, Artaban went out on his roof to watch the night sky. "If
the star appears, they will wait for me ten days, then we will all
set out together for Jerusalem. I have made ready for the
journey by selling all of my possessions and have bought three
jewels--a saphire, a ruby and a pearl. i intend to present them as my
tribute to the king."
As he watched an azure spark was
born ou6t of the darkness, rounding itself with splendor into a
crimson sphere. Artaban bowed his head. "It
is
the sign," he said. "The King
is coming, and I will go to meet him."
The swiftest of Artaban's horses
had ben waiting saddled and bridled in her stall, pawing the ground
impatiently. She shared the eargerness of her master's
purpose.
As Artaban placed himself upon her
back, he said, "God bless us both from falling and our souls from
death."
They began their journey. Each day
his faithful hourse measured off the allotted proportion of the
distance, and at nightfall on the tenth day, they approached the
outskirts of Babylon. In a little island of desert palm trees,
Artaban's horse scented difficulty and slackened her pace. Then she
stood still , quivering in every muscle.
Artaban dismounted. The dim
starlight revealed the form of a man lying in the roadway. His skin
bore the mark of a deadly fever. The chill of death was in his lean
hand. As artaban turned to go, a si9gh came from the sick man's lips.
Artaban felt sorry that he could
not stay to minister to this dying stranger, but this was the hour
toward which his entire life had been directed. He could not forfeit
the reward of his years of study and faither to do a single deed of
human mercy. But then, how coulde he leave his fellow man alone to
die?
"God of truth and mercy," prayed
Artaban, "direct me in the path of wisdom which only thou knowest."
Then he knew that he couldn not go on. The Magi were physicians as
well as astronomers. He took off his robe and egan his work of
healing. Several hours later the patient regained consciousness.
Artaban gave him all that was left of his bread and wine. He left a
potion of healing herbs and instruction for his care.
Though Artaban rode with the
gretest haste the rest of the way, it was ater dawn that he arrived
at the designated meeting place. His friends were nowheer to be seen.
Finally his eyes caught a piece of parchment arranged to attract his
attention. It said,"We have waited til past midnight, and can delay
no longer. We go to find the King. Follow us across the
desert."
Artaban sat down in despair and
covered his face with his hands. "How can I cross the desert with no
food and with a spent horse? I must return to Babylon, sell my
saphire and buy camels and provisions for the journey. I may
never overtake my friends. Only the merciful God knows whether or not
I shall lose my purpose because I tarried to show
mercy."
Several days later when Artaban
arrived at Bethlehem, the streets were deserted. It was rumored that
Herod was sending soldiers, presumably to enforce some new tax, and
the men of the city had taken their flocks into the hills beyond his
reach.
The door of one dwelling was open,
and Artaban could hear a mothersinging a lullaby to her child. He
entered and introduced himself. The woman told him that it was now
the third day since the three wise men had appeared in Bethlehem.
They had found Joseph and Mary and the young child and had laid their
gifts at his feet. Then they had gone as mysteriously as they had
come. Joseph had taken his wife and babe that same night and had
secretly fled. It was whispered that they were going far away into
Egypt.
As Artaban listened, the baby
reached up its dimpled hand and touched his cheek and smiled. His
heart warmed at the touch. Then, suddenly, outside there arose a wild
confusion of sounds. Women were shrieking. Then a desperate cry was
heard, "The soldiers of Herod are killing the children."
Artaban went to the doorway. A
band of soldiers came hurrying down the street. The captain
approached the door to thrust Artaban aside, but Artaban did not
stir. His face was as calm as though he were still watching the
stars. Finally his out-stretched hand revealed the giant ruby . He
said, "I am waiting to gie this jewel to the prudent captain who will
go on his way and leave this house alone. "
The captain, amazed at the
splendor of the gem , took it and said to his men , "March on, there
are no children here."
Then Artaban prayed, "Oh God,
forgive me my sin, I have spent for men that which was meant for
God. Shall I ever be worthy to see the face of the King?"
But the voice of the woman ,
weeping of joy in the shadows behind him said softly, "Thou hast
saved the life of my little one. May the Lord bless thee and keep
thee and give thee peace."
Artaban, still following the King
went on into Egypt seeking everywhere for traces of the little family
that had fled before him. For many years we follow Artaban in his
search. We see him at the pyramids. We see him in Alexandria taking
counsel with a Hebrew rabbi who told him to seek the King not among
the rich but among the poor.
He passed through countries where
famine lay heavy upon the land, and the poor were crying for bread.
He made his dwelling in plague-stricken cities. he visited the
oppressed and the afflicted in prisons. He searched the crowded
slave-markets. Though he found no one to worship, he found many to
serve. As the years passed he fed the hungry, clothed the naked,
healed the sick and comportd the captive.
Thirty-three years had now passed
away since Artaban began his search. His hair was white as snow. He
knew his life's end was near, but he was still desperate with hope
that he would find the King. He had come for the last time to
Jerusalem.
It was the season of the Passover
and teh city was thronged with strangers. Artaban inquired where they
were going. One answered, "We are going to the execution on Golgotha
outside the city walls. Two robbers are to be crucified, and with
them another called Jesus of Nazareth, a man who has done many
wonderful works among the people. He claims to be the son of God and
the priests and elders hae said that he must die. Pilate sent him to
the cross."
How strangely these familiar words
fell upon the tired heart of Artaban. They had led him for a lifetime
over land and sea. And now they came to him like a message of
despair. The King had been denied and cast out. Perhaps he was
already dying. Could he be the same one for whom the star had
appeared thirty-three long years ago?
Artaban's heart beat loudly within
him,. He thought,"It may be that I shall yet find the King and be
able to ransom him from death by giving my treasure to his
enemies."
But, as Artaban started toward
Calvary, he saw a troop of soldiers coming down the street, dragging
a sobbing young woman. As Artaban paused, she broke away from her
tormentors and threw herself at his feet, her arms clasped around his
knees.
"Have pity on me," she cried. "And
save me. My father was also of the magi, but he is dead. I am to be
sold as a slave to pay his debts. "
Artaban trembled as he again felt
the conflict arising in his soul. It was the same that he had
experienced in the palm grove of Babylon and in the cottage at
Bethlehem. Twice the gift which he had consecrated to the King had
been drawn from his hand to the service of humanity. Would he now
fail again? One thing was clear, he must rescue this helpless child
from evil.
He took the pearl and laid it in
the hand of the girl and said,"Daughter, this is the ransom. It is
the last of my treasures which I had hoped to keep for the
King."
While he spoke , the darkness of
the sky thickened and the shuddering tremors of an earthquake ran
through the ground. The houses rocked. The soldiers fled in terror.
Artaban sank beside a protecting wall. What had he to fear? What had
he to hope for? He had given away the last of his tribute to the
King. The quest was over and he had failed. What else
mattered?
The earthquake quivered beneath
him. A heavy tile, shaken from a roof, fell and struck him. He lay
breathless and pale. Then there came a still small voice through the
twilight. It was like distant music. The rescued girl leaned over him
and heard him say," Not so, my Lord; for when saw I thee hungered and
fed thee? Or thirsty and gave thee drink? When saw I thee sick or in
prison and came unto thee? Thirty-three years have I looked for thee;
but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered unto thee, my
King."
The sweet voice came again,
"Verily I say unto thee, that inasmuch as thou hast done it unto
one of the least of these my brothern, thou has done it unto
me."
A calm radiance of wonder and joy
lighted the face of Artaban as one long, last breath exhaled gently
from his lips. His journey was ended. His treasure accepted. The
Other Wise Man had found the King.
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