Last year, Jay and I had Christmas Eve dinner at a neighbor's. After dinner, they had a program like my family did on Christmas Eve. Their youngest son shared "The Night Before Christmas" like my brother, John would. Except John read the book while their son had it memorized. When Grandma read a story I was reminded of my mom reading "The Other Wiseman". So from memory I will tell the story.
As we all know, there were many wisemen from the East, who anxiously seeking the signs of Christ's birth. There was another wiseman, Artaban, who planned to meet up with the other wisemen so they could meet with the Christ child together. Artaban had three jewels that he wanted to give the new born king.
When Artaban saw the star, he saddle up his camel (or his horse) and set off. Along the way, he came across a traveler who had been robbed. Like a good Samaritan, he stopped and helped the man. Artaban gave the man rest his food meant for the trip. He use the sapphire to pay for food so he could continue his journey to meet with the other three wisemen. Artaban hurried on his way only to find that other wisemen had waited as long as they could and left without him. Artaban traveled alone to Bethlehem, but when he got there, he found out that Joseph and Mary had fled to Egypt with the baby Jesus. In his search for the departed Christ child, Artaban stopped at young mother's home. When the soldiers came to take her toddler away, Artaban gave the soldiers a ruby so that they would not search the home. As he gave away his second jewel, he felt remorse because that was his gift to Christ child.
Artaban left Jerusalem and headed for Egypt. He didn't find Jesus there and eventually he returned to Israel and searched for Jesus there. Artaban sought Jesus for the rest of his life, serving others in their time of need. Finally, he heard that Christ was to be crucified, so Artaban headed back to Jerusalem. On his way to Calvary, Artaban came across a young woman who was being sold into slavery to pay for her father's debts. Artaban took pity on her and gave his last jewel,the pearl to free the young woman from slavery. He immediately felt like he had betrayed Christ. Three times he had given away the gifts he wanted to give to Christ.
But Christ appeared to Artaban in a vision when a brick from building hit him and quoted Matthew 25:40 - "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
