The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke
Henry van Dyke's The Other Wise Man is a short book or lengthy short tale. It was first published in 1895 and has been republished several times since. The narrative adds to and expands on the account of the Biblical Magi, which is told in the New Testament's Gospel of Matthew. It narrates the story of a "fourth" wise man, Artaban, a priest of the Magi from Persia. He, like the other Magi, sees signs in the sky declaring the birth of a King among the Jews. He, too, sets out to see the newborn ruler, carrying treasures to give to the child as gifts - a sapphire, a ruby, and a "pearl of great price".
He does, however, stop along the journey to assist a dying man, making him late to meet the caravan of the other three wise men. Because he missed the caravan and cannot traverse the desert on horseback, he is forced to sell one of his valuables in order to purchase the camels and provisions needed for the journey. He then sets out on his quest, arriving in Bethlehem too late to meet the kid, whose parents had fled to Egypt. He saves a child's life at the expense of another of his treasures.
He then goes to Egypt and other nations for several years, looking for Jesus and conducting charitable deeds along the way. Artaban is still a pilgrim and seeker of light after 33 years. Artaban comes in Jerusalem just in time for Jesus' crucifixion. He uses his final possession, the pearl, to save a young woman from servitude. He is subsequently hit in the head by a falling roof tile and is ready to die, having failed to locate Jesus but doing great good via humanitarian actions. A voice informs him "Truly, I say to you, Inasmuch as thou hast done it to one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it to me", the Bible states. In a serene glow of ecstasy and awe, he passes away. The Other Wise Man found his King after having his valuables acknowledged.
Detailed information:
Author: Henry Van Dyke
Published: 1895
Genre: Holiday, fiction, classics, christian
Link to read: goodreads.com/book/show/1992710
