Have you ever wondered about the Wisemen? Was there really just three? What was it like following ‘the star’? While we don’t really know, it is interesting to think about.
Sue’s family had a Christmas tradition of reading Van Dyke’s story, “The Other Wiseman.” That’s how I became acquainted with the story of Artaban. Van Dyke built on the Biblical story of the visiting Magi and specifically the tradition of the three wise men. Artaban, his story goes, was delayed by stopping to lend aid to a dying man. That postponement put Artaban permanently behind. He arrives in Bethlehem after Joseph and Mary have fled with Jesus to Egypt. While there, Artaban uses some of the treasure intended for the infant king to save a child from Herod’s soldiers. Always one step behind the movements of Jesus, Artaban spends thirty-three years and almost his entire treasure searching, doing acts of mercy and saving lives. The old Wiseman finally arrives back in Jerusalem in time for Jesus’ crucifixion. Having never met Christ face-to-face, he spends the last of his treasure to rescue a girl being sold as a slave. While in the Temple, a falling roof tile strikes the old man down. As he lays dying, Artaban finally hears the voice of the King he so longed to meet … “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
I do not think that Van Dyke believed that you could work your way into God’s presence. I think he was pushing Christians to ask whether our lives truly reflect the values of the One we say we’ve met. Many who feign a bow at the manger have never encountered the Savior King. Have you?
