The fourth king
(Russian legend)
 6:37
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In the mountains of ancient Persia, lived Artaban, whose study of the planets and the stars led him to predict the birth of the King of Kings.
He sold his house and every possession and purchased a large sapphire blue as a fragment of the night sky, a flawless ruby redder than a ray of sunrise, and a lustrous pearl as pure as the peak of a snow mountain at twilight — which he intended to carry as tribute to the King.
He then set out for Jerusalem where he had arranged to meet up with three other wise men, or Magi, to find the newborn. After many weeks of difficult travel and frustrating delays, one night, he saw a man lying on the road. His haggard face, pallid skin, and labored breathing, bore the mark of the deadly fever. But, as he turned to leave, the man begged for help. Artaban hesitated. If he lingered to minister to a dying stranger even for an hour, he could miss his three friends. But if he left now, the man would surely die. He turned to the sick man and carefully attended to him, leaving with him all that he had left of bread and wine and his store of healing herbs. He handed the sapphire to a woman and asked her to take good care of the man.
“I have nothing to give you in return,” said the grateful man, “…only this: our prophets have decreed that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem. May the Lord bring you in safety to that place, because you had pity upon the sick.”
When he reached the meeting place, he received only this message: “We can delay no longer. Follow us across the desert.” Artaban arrived at Bethlehem with his remaining ruby and pearl offerings, but it was three whole days after the three other wise men had found Mary, Joseph and Jesus, and had laid gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh at the baby’s feet.
In a little cottage, he met a woman with her son, who told him Joseph had taken his wife and child and fled secretly that very night. Herod was slaying all male children, afraid the promised ‘King’ would claim his throne. As the woman spoke, there was uproar in the streets as Herod’s soldiers searched each home to kill any male children they found. The terrified young mother clasped the child to herself. But Artaban rushed to the doorway and held out the ruby to the soldier, who snatched it eagerly. “March on!” he commanded his men, “there is no child here!”.
Artaban sighed: “Now two of my gifts are gone. I have spent for man that which was meant for God. Shall I ever be worthy to see the face of the King?”
But the woman, weeping for joy, said gently: “Because you have saved the life of my little one, may the Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace.”
Arbatan wandered for 33 years in search of the little family from Bethlehem. Worn and weary, ill now, and ready to die, but still looking for the King, he had come for the last time to Jerusalem. Hearing of a great person who was to be put to death that very day, and hearing of his life and teachings, Artaban realized this was indeed his ‘King’, but as he made his way to Golgotha, hoping his priceless pearl could buy the great one’s release, he saw a troop of soldiers marching down the street, dragging a young girl in chains. “Have pity on me; save me! I am to be sold as a slave.”
The fourth wise man knew what he must do. He took the pearl from his bosom. Never had it seemed so luminous and radiant as it was now. He took one last look and laid it in the hand of the slave. “This is your ransom, daughter! It is the last of my treasures which I kept for the King.”
While he spoke, the darkness of the sky thickened, and shuddering tremors ran through the earth. He collapsed and as she bent over him, afraid he was dead, a sound came through the twilight, very small and still, like music sounding from a distance. The girl turned her head to see if someone had spoken from the window above them, but she saw no one.
The old man‟s lips began to move, as if in answer: “Not so, my Lord. For when did I see you??” then both heard a gentle yet compelling voice: “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me.”
A calm radiance of wonder and joy lighted the pale face of Artaban, like the first ray of dawn on a snowy mountain peak, and one long, last breath of relief exhaled gently from his lips. His journey was ended. His treasures were accepted.
The Fourth Wise Man had found the King.
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