It is said that, in addition to Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar, there was a fourth wise man from the East called Artaban.
Artaban was a Persian sage who, like the other Magi, observed in the sky the star that announced the birth of the Messiah. Understanding its meaning, he decided to undertake the journey to Bethlehem to pay homage to him.
Before leaving, he gathered three jewels of great value:
a diamond, a ruby and a jasper.
Those treasures would be his offering for the baby Jesus.
However, when he began his journey, his path was different.
During the journey, Artaban encountered a seriously injured man by the roadside. No one stopped to help him. Although he knew that stopping meant delaying, Artaban could not ignore his suffering. To save his life, he gave the diamond he had reserved for Christ and remained with him until he was safe.
When he resumed his march, it was too late. Artaban arrived in Bethlehem after the child had been taken to safety.
Some time later, he witnessed the horror caused by the order of King Herod, who ordered the small children to be killed. In the midst of the tragedy, Artaban found a desperate mother who was trying to save her son. Without hesitation, he gave up his ruby to allow the child to escape.
The years passed and Artaban continued on his way helping those he met. Finally, as an old man, he arrived in Jerusalem. There he saw a young slave girl condemned to a life of suffering. Moved by compassion, he gave up his last jewel, jasper, to buy his freedom.
Then Artaban was left without riches, without gifts, and without ever having seen the baby Jesus.
He thought he had failed.
It never made it to the manger.
He never saw the Messiah.
He never delivered his offerings as he had planned.
But according to legend, at that moment he understood a deeper truth. Christ would have revealed to him:
“What you did for your brothers, you did for me.”
And so, Artaban understood that true greatness is not in arriving first,
but in serving without expecting anything in return.
Note
This legend is based on the book The Other Wise Man, written in 1896 by Henry van, a work of a spiritual nature that gave rise to the story of the call Fourth Wise Man.
