The Legend of the Fourth King

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There is a legend about the fourth King or Wise Man. Arteban came from Persia and travelled to meet the others – He carried his gift – three precious jewels – a sapphire, a ruby and a pearl.


On his way to meet the other three wise men he met an old Jew by the roadside, very sick with a fever. Moved with pity and because he had healing powers, he nursed him until he was well. It took so long that he missed the other three at their meeting place. They had left a message to say that the new King had been born in Bethlehem.

It would have been a very difficult journey for a rider alone to make so he decided he must form a caravan so that others could journey with him. To buy all the camels and equipment cost him a lot of money – so he used the sapphire.

Eventually he arrived at Bethlehem – but discovered the other Wise Men had already left. He met a young mother who told them that the Holy Family had left too – they had fled to Egypt because King Herod was threatening to kill all the babies. Whilst Artaban was in the town the soldiers arrived with their orders. The young mother was terrified when they came and as they were about to kill her baby, Artaban bribed them not to – he used his Ruby jewel to do this.

He sought the King for many years – in order to give him his present – now, just one Pearl and finally after wandering for a very long time he arrived in Jerusalem. It was the time of Passover and the city was buzzing with talk about the trial of a man called Jesus who claimed to be Son of God and King of the Jews. People were hurrying to a hill where he was to be crucified.

Artaban wondered if this was the man he had been looking for. Perhaps he could give his gift of the pearl to pay a ransom for his life. He hurried to find out but on his way he met a young girl, crying because she was to be sold into slavery to pay her father’s debts. Artaban was moved to pity and so he gave her the pearl so that the debts could be paid.

When Artaban reached the foot of the Cross he looked up at Jesus and knew him to be the one he had been looking for - for over 30 years. Artaban apologised that he now had no gifts to offer him. Jesus looked tenderly at him and said that he had already received the gifts. What gifts could be more precious than: The care for a dying man; the life of a child; and the freedom of a girl.

Jesus told him that he should return with joy to his own country – and told him to remember that whatever he had done for the least of God’s children, that was his true gift.

When we give  our love by serving and loving others we give something much more precious than all the gold, incense, and jewels in the whole world.