What a wonderful little book. It has become one of my Christmas favorites, right along with "A Christmas Carol".

This story always causes me to tear up. It is so beautiful. And the message rings true. May all who seek their king find him.

I read this story around Christmas every year and I get emotional every time. I first read it for a high school class and unlike every other book in that class, this one stuck with me.
It's the truest Christmas fiction story. It is about a wise man that never existed, but Artaban's story is the definition of what Christmas is about. Unlike most "true meaning" stories, Artaban doesn't discover what Christmas is about. He already knows. He's given everything to go meet the newborn King of the Jews. What he discovers is the meaning of the King's arrival. The true meaning behind the true meaning of Christmas.
I have to recommend this to everyone I know.

Rating: 4.6*
"For when saw I thee a hungered and fed thee? Or thirsty and gave thee drink? When saw I thee a stranger and took thee in? When saw I thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee? Three-and-thirty years have I looked for thee; but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered to thee, my King"
"...inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me."

Take out: The entire story is hinged on these words - a plea to consider the needs of our brethren, ensure their wellbeing before service to God.

This short story is framed on the backdrop of the famous Biblical incident of the three wise men from Magi on a quest to find the new born Messiah (the much awaited King) and to pay him their tributes. Here, the author conjures a fictional Magian named Artaban (The other wise men) who observes the celestial phenomenon of the rising of an Eastern Star which the Scriptures had predicted would be the sign of the birth of the King of Israel. In spite being discouraged by his fellow scholars (Them, referring his quest as ’The cruel jest of a riddle that has no answer, a search that never can succeed’), he sets out carrying with him three precious gifts for the King – a sapphire, a ruby and a pearl – to meet the other three wise men.

How he gets delayed in the due course of his journey and how he ends up losing all his precious gifts in the service of mankind forms the rest of the story. The story (his search for the King) spans thirty-three years, from the birth of Jesus to his crucifixion wherein he comes to a realization that service to our fellow-beings is far more precious to God than any other gifts money can buy

A feel good Christmas story….Well written and a good read for all ages!!

My family has a tradition to read this book every Christmas Eve. It is a powerful story about making the love of Christ the focus of our lives. About obeying the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law. About serving others, about kindness, and especially about charity. A really beautiful story. I love how this story came to Henry Van Dyke in a dream, it just makes it seem more real.

Henry Van Dyke's story of the fourth wise man has been a favorite of mine since I first read it as a young child in my parents' home. Tonight, after our annual trip to see "Bethlehem Revisited" in Waxahachie, Texas, I remembered the story. I was able to find it on my smartphone (they aactually are useful once in awhile) and read the story out loud to my family on the way home.

As I ended the reading, and after a moment of reverent silence, my teenage daughter quietly said, "I didn't see that coming." Neither did I the first time I read it, and many decades later I still thrill to the ending lines about the dying Artaban:

"Then the old man's lips began to move, as if in answer, and she heard him say in the Parthian tongue:

"Not so, my Lord! For when saw I thee an hungered and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw I thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? When saw I thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee? Three-and-- thirty years have I looked for thee; but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered to thee, my King."

"He ceased, and the sweet voice came again. And again the maid heard it, very faint and far away. But now it seemed as though she understood the words:

"Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast 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. A long breath of relief exhaled gently from his lips.

"His journey was ended. His treasures were accepted. The Other Wise Man had found the King."

May the same be true for all seekers of truth!

This story has more than one single meaning. It has more than three. Layers and layers of symbolism and of allegories really set this small book apart from any other. The foreshadowing shows how much we accomplish when we live for Jesus and how much our lives really impact others.

Not many greats are left that compare to Henry van Dyke, and I can truly say this is a book that I will pass down to my children since I own the 1899 edition.

A fitting story to read during Christmas and Epiphany. Reminiscent of the legends of Babushka or Befana or Papa Panov.

If you're looking for a Christmas themed story with a strong Christian thread this would be it.