Advent calendar 2020

Advent 24 - Tuesday 22nd December 2020

Photo: JoLynne Martinez/Flickr

The mysterious Magi!

Yesterday, I was eagerly looking forward to seeing the conjunction of Saturn & Jupiter on the SW horizon just after sunset. By Scotland being Scotland there was a lot of cloud, so the night sky only became visible later in the evening. Very disappointing! Better luck today? Whether or not of course this was the ‘actual’ star that guided the Magi to Bethlehem is of course unknown.

The story of the Magi or Wise man are probably the most mysterious part of the Christmas story. We have no real idea as to who the Magi were or where they came from. The Bible says extraordinarily little about the Magi. There are two possible ‘glimpses’ which appear in the Old Testament.

Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Isaiah 60:3

May he rule from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
May the desert tribes bow before him
and his enemies lick the dust.
May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba and Seba
present him gifts.
May all kings bow down to him
and all nations serve him.
Psalm 72: 8-11

Whilst we know very little about them, the Magi have long intrigued artists, scholars and storytellers, including the writer Henry Van Dyke who told the story of the Fourth Wise Man.

Rev Sean Swindells
Cruden Parish Church

The fourth wise man
by Henry Van Dyke

A Zoroastrian named Artaban lived in the city of E
cbatana 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."

Prayer
Lord, may we be like the Wise Men
Lord, may we be like the Wise Men who were guided to you by a star.
Give us the wisdom to seek you,
light to guide us to you,
courage to search until we find you,
graciousness to worship you
and generosity to lay our gifts before you,
who are our King and our God for ever and ever.
Amen

Other days in the Advent Calendar