The Story of the Other Wise Man

"The Story of the Other Wise Man" by Henry van Dyke is a fictional addition to the Magi-account from the Bible. The "fourth" wise man, Artaban, is a Medes from Persia. Like the other Magi, he sees signs proclaiming that a King had been born among the Jews. He sets out with treasures to the child, too. But he stops along the way to help a dying man. He misses the caravan, so he sells one of his treasures to buy the camels and supplies for the trip. He arrives in Bethlehem too late to see the child.

After 33 years, Artaban is still a pilgrim, a seeker of the light. He arrives in Jerusalem on the day of Jesus' crucifixion. He spends his last treasure to ransom a young woman from slavery. He is then struck by a falling roof tile and is about to die, having failed in his quest to find Jesus, when a voice tells him: "Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40) So the Other Wise Man found his King.

Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933) was an American author, educator, and clergyman. By appointment of President Woodrow Wilson, he became Minister to the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1913.