A Gift for a King
The Christmas season is rich with stories of reindeer and misfit toys, of a well-meaning banker rescued by an angel looking to earn his wings, of friends praying for snow to save their hero from bankruptcy, of families looking for the best Christmas ever, and Santa trying to stay out of jail long enough to be able to do his Christmas run. I love all those stories, but of course the Gospel story surpasses them all, because while those stories hint at the truth, the Gospel story declares the Savior of the world has come. That is the greatest story ever told! But I must admit, I still have a favorite among the collection of fictional Christmas tales that has long held my heart. If you have not read Henry van Dyke’s classic- The Other Wiseman, I highly recommend it for your new year’s reading list. Don’t wait until next Christmas to enjoy this tale, for you will find it moving and challenging, and it may even shape how you enter 2026.
The Other Wiseman is an imaginative expansion of the Biblical account of the magi
recorded in Matthew’s gospel. Van Dyke begins his tale with these words:
You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East, and how they
travelled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem.
But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man,
who also saw the star in its rising,
and set out to follow it, yet did not arrive with his brethren
in the presence of the young child Jesus?
recorded in Matthew’s gospel. Van Dyke begins his tale with these words:
You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East, and how they
travelled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem.
But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man,
who also saw the star in its rising,
and set out to follow it, yet did not arrive with his brethren
in the presence of the young child Jesus?
Artaban had joined the other magi in witnessing the great light in the night sky that declared the birth of a great king, perhaps the King of kings, in the tiny, insignificant country of Israel. These wisemen were compelled to go and offer tribute to this king. So, they made plans for the journey across the desert and committed to one another to share the quest. Unfortunately, Artaban was delayed in leaving, so he told his fellow adventurers that he would meet them in the capital city where they were going to buy the supplies for the trip.
On the way to catch up with the caravan, Artaban encountered a man, collapsed by the roadside, dying. Like all magi, Artaban was trained in the medicinal arts, so he stopped to care for the man, giving him aid and staying with him until he was stable. Those days of mercy were costly. When Artaban finally arrived in the capital city, he heard that the caravan had already left for their journey across the desert. They could wait no longer, so Artaban will now have to journey alone. Artaban had purchased three gems to bring as tribute to the king- a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl of great price. Now he will need to sell the sapphire to pay for the supplies he will need to travel across the desert. He travelled as fast as his horse could endure, but travelling alone is harder than travelling in a caravan. By the time Artaban arrives in Bethlehem to pay tribute to the king, the family has fled, and the streets of the town are full of Roman soldiers with swords drawn.
A woman sees Artaban and pulls him into her home. In tears, she pleads with him to save her baby boy from the soldiers. Before Artaban knows what is happening, a captain of the guard pounds on the door demanding entrée. The woman huddles with her child in the corner, holding her breath, hoping her child will stay quiet. But just as Artaban opens the door, the baby whimpers. The soldier presses forward to find the child, but Artaban stands as a human shield preventing his entry into the home. Then he reaches into the fold of his garment and pulls out the ruby, meant for the king. He places it in the captain’s hand and says: “There is no child here.” The captain steps back into the street and calls out to his men, “There is no child in this home.” The soldiers move on. The child is saved, but now two of Artaban’s gifts have been spent.
Artaban hears tale that the family has gone to Egypt, so he goes there to search for the child. For years, he travels from country to country, performing acts of mercy as he searches for the king. Years later, he returns to Israel’s capital city when he hears stories of a king welcomed with palms and hosannas. Maybe, finally, he will meet the King and be able to offer his last gift, a perfect, translucent pearl, still held securely in the fold of his garment. But as he walks through the city of Jerusalem, a young girl grabs hold of the folds of his garment, begging for mercy. “The soldiers will take me and sell me into slavery. It will be a life worse than death.” When the soldiers come, Artaban takes the final gift from his breast pocket and offers it to the captain as ransom for her life. Just as the soldiers move on, an earthquake shakes the foundations of Jerusalem, dislodging a tile from the roof above. The tile strikes Artaban in the head, leaving him near death. Cradled in the young girl’s arms, his lips begin to move as if speaking to someone. “When did I see you hungry… thirsty… homeless?” Then a peaceful smile came across his face. “Oh…” Van Dyke concludes his tale with the line: “His journey was ended. His treasures accepted. The other Wise Man had found the King.”
I hope my quick rendition of this tale just whets your appetite to read the rich prose of Henry van Dyke’s classic. But even more, I hope that this story inspires your gift this year. What will you bring to honor the King of kings?
With you seeking to bring a gift that honors the King,
Anita
On the way to catch up with the caravan, Artaban encountered a man, collapsed by the roadside, dying. Like all magi, Artaban was trained in the medicinal arts, so he stopped to care for the man, giving him aid and staying with him until he was stable. Those days of mercy were costly. When Artaban finally arrived in the capital city, he heard that the caravan had already left for their journey across the desert. They could wait no longer, so Artaban will now have to journey alone. Artaban had purchased three gems to bring as tribute to the king- a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl of great price. Now he will need to sell the sapphire to pay for the supplies he will need to travel across the desert. He travelled as fast as his horse could endure, but travelling alone is harder than travelling in a caravan. By the time Artaban arrives in Bethlehem to pay tribute to the king, the family has fled, and the streets of the town are full of Roman soldiers with swords drawn.
A woman sees Artaban and pulls him into her home. In tears, she pleads with him to save her baby boy from the soldiers. Before Artaban knows what is happening, a captain of the guard pounds on the door demanding entrée. The woman huddles with her child in the corner, holding her breath, hoping her child will stay quiet. But just as Artaban opens the door, the baby whimpers. The soldier presses forward to find the child, but Artaban stands as a human shield preventing his entry into the home. Then he reaches into the fold of his garment and pulls out the ruby, meant for the king. He places it in the captain’s hand and says: “There is no child here.” The captain steps back into the street and calls out to his men, “There is no child in this home.” The soldiers move on. The child is saved, but now two of Artaban’s gifts have been spent.
Artaban hears tale that the family has gone to Egypt, so he goes there to search for the child. For years, he travels from country to country, performing acts of mercy as he searches for the king. Years later, he returns to Israel’s capital city when he hears stories of a king welcomed with palms and hosannas. Maybe, finally, he will meet the King and be able to offer his last gift, a perfect, translucent pearl, still held securely in the fold of his garment. But as he walks through the city of Jerusalem, a young girl grabs hold of the folds of his garment, begging for mercy. “The soldiers will take me and sell me into slavery. It will be a life worse than death.” When the soldiers come, Artaban takes the final gift from his breast pocket and offers it to the captain as ransom for her life. Just as the soldiers move on, an earthquake shakes the foundations of Jerusalem, dislodging a tile from the roof above. The tile strikes Artaban in the head, leaving him near death. Cradled in the young girl’s arms, his lips begin to move as if speaking to someone. “When did I see you hungry… thirsty… homeless?” Then a peaceful smile came across his face. “Oh…” Van Dyke concludes his tale with the line: “His journey was ended. His treasures accepted. The other Wise Man had found the King.”
I hope my quick rendition of this tale just whets your appetite to read the rich prose of Henry van Dyke’s classic. But even more, I hope that this story inspires your gift this year. What will you bring to honor the King of kings?
With you seeking to bring a gift that honors the King,
Anita
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