Thee Other Wisemen

Each year at Christmas we delight to follow the wise men as they came out of the East and made their way to Bethlehem where they worshiped the new-born king and laid treasures at his feet. But Henry Van Dyke has told us about another wise man who also followed the star not only to Bethlehem, but throughout his life, and yet he never found the king. The other wise man's name was Artaban. He was a kind of unknown soldier who didn't quite make the headlines. He was also one of the Magi and 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 would 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. Ont he night that the sign was to be given, Artaban was speaking to nine of his Magi friends in his home. He said to them, "My three brethren are watching at the ancient temple of the Seven Spheres, at Borsippa, in Babylon and I am watching here. If the star appears, they will wait for me for ten days, then we will all set out together for Jerusalem. I believe the sign will come tonight.. I have made ready for the journey by selling all of my possessions and have bought these three jewels: a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl. I intend to present them as my tribute to the king." He said, "I invite you to make the pilgrimage with us that we may worship the new-born king together.." While he was speaking he thrust his hand into the inmost fold of his girdle and drew out three gems: one blue as a fragment of the night sky, one redder than a ray of the sunrise, and one as pure as the peak of a snow mountain at twilight. He would give them all to the King. Then one of Artaban's friends said, "Artaban, this is a vain dream. No King will ever rise from the broken race of Israel.. He who looks for him is a chaser of shadows." Then he bid Artaban farewell and left his dwelling. Each in turn offered his own particular excuse, and finally only his oldest and truest friend remained. He said "Artaban, I am too old for this quest, but my heart goes with thee." Then with a hand on Artaban's shoulder he said, "Those who see wonderful things, must often be willing to travel alone." Left to himself Artaban put his jewels back into his girdle. Then he parted the curtains and went out onto the roof to again take up his vigil to watch the night sky.. As Jupiter and Saturn rolled together like drops of lambent flame about to blend into one, an azure spark was born out of the darkness beneath them, rounding itself with purple 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.." All night long, Vasda, the swiftest of Artaban's horses, had been waiting saddled and bridled, in her stall, pawing the ground impatiently and shaking her bit as if she shared the eagerness of her master's purpose. As Artaban placed himself upon her back he said, "God bless us both, and keep our feet from falling and our souls from death." Under this encouragement, each day his faithful horse measured off the allotted proportion of the distance, and at nightfall of the tenth day, they approached the outskirts of Babylon. In a little islpon thee and give thee peace..."

 

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