My favorite wise man is the fourth one.  His story comes from writer
Henry van Dyke, who called his tale "The Story of the Other Wise Man."  
     The Magi, often called wise men, have long intrigued scholars and
storytellers. The notion that there were three wise men stems from the
number of gifts they brought -- gold, frankincense and myrrh.  They were
probably magicians or astrologers, possibly Zoroastrian wise men from Persia
whose knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) and the stars
could be traced back to the time of Daniel.
     In van Dyke's story, a Zoroastrian named Artaban lived in the city of
Ecbatana among the mountains of Persia.  Gathering nine Parthian nobles,
Artaban says, "You have come tonight ... at my call, as the faithful
scholars of Zoroaster, to renew your worship and rekindle your faith in the
God of Purity. ... The highest of all learning is the knowledge of the
stars.  To trace their course is to untangle the threads of the mystery of
life from the beginning to the end.  If we could follow them perfectly,
nothing would be hidden from us."  
     Artaban tells his fellow Magi that soon he will join three other Magi.
Together they will search for the promised one to be born King of Israel.
"We have searched the ancient tablets of Chaldea and computed the time. ...
We have studied the sky, and in the spring of the year we saw two of the
greatest planets draw near together in the sign of the fish, which is the
house of the Hebrews," Artaban explained.
     Selling his possessions, Artaban bought three jewels -- a sapphire, a
ruby and a pearl. He would "carry them as tribute to the King."  A veil of
doubt and mistrust came over the faces of Artaban's fellow Zoroastrians.
But Abgarus, who loved Artaban the best, finally said, "But it is better to
follow even the shadow of the best than to remain content with the worst.
And those who would see wonderful things must often be ready to travel alone
Go in peace."
    Thus begins Artaban's journey.  He had only 10 days to meet his three
companions at the great mound of Nimrod and the Temple of the Seven Spheres.
But as Artaban neared the temple at the appointed time, he came upon a dying
man lying in the road.  Would Artaban give a cup of water to a dying man, or
would he press on to meet his Zoroastrian companions?  
     Because Magians are physicians as well as astrologers, Artaban stopped.
"Hour after hour he labored as only a skillful healer of disease can do.  At
last the man's strength returned."
     Pressing on, Artaban discovered that his friends had gone on without
him.  He was forced to sell his sapphire to buy a train of camels and
provision for his journey.  "I may never overtake my friends.  Only God the
merciful knows whether I shall not lose the sight of the King because I
tarried to show mercy."
     But once again, Artaban discovers he is a step behind.  He arrives in
Bethlehem just as the cruel soldiers of King Herod are killing the baby boys
of Bethlehem.  Guarding the doorway of a home where he has discovered a
young mother and her baby son are hiding, Artaban confronts a soldier: "I am
all alone in this place, and I am waiting to give this jewel to the prudent
captain who will leave me in peace."  Artaban hands the soldier the ruby,
"glistening in the hollow of his hand like a great drop of blood."
     "March one!" the soldier cried to his men, "There is no child here.
The house is empty."
     For 33 years Artaban continued looking for the King -- spending his
years helping the poor and dying -- before at last coming to Jerusalem
during the season of the Passover.  There was great commotion in Jerusalem.
Suddenly a slave girl, being dragged by soldiers, breaks away from her
tormentors and throws herself at Artaban's feet.  Taking the last of his
treasures, the pearl, he gives it to the girl.  "This is thy ransom,
daughter!  It is the last of my treasures which I kept for the king."
     While Artaban spoke, a powerful earthquake shook the city.  He was
struck by a roof tile. Artaban knew he was dying.  He would not find the
King.  The quest was over, and he had failed.
     But the ransomed slave girl, holding the old, dying man, heard a sweet
voice and then saw Artaban's lips slowly move.  "Not so, my Lord! ... When
saw I thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee?  Thirty-three years have I
looked for thee, but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered to thee, my
King."
     But the unmistakable voice came again and the maid heard it clearly: "I
tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me."
     Van Dyke then ends his story: "A long breath of relief exhaled gently
from Artaban's lips.  His journey was ended.  His treasures were accepted.
The Other Wise Man had found the King."  


Don Follis is a University of Illinois campus minister.  His column appears
on Fridays.  Reprinted with permission from the Champaign-Urbana
News-Gazette, copyright 1998.