The Story of the Other Wise Man

The dimensions of this publication are larger than I expected, and is more like a children's picture book than the small books I have purchased in the past for adults. Make sure you check the ISBN of the specific version you are looking for, because all of them are different. I could not give this one as an adult gift, so I still have it.

This is my favorite Christmas story. Henry VanDyke weaves a beautiful tale. The very young are bound to get bogged down in the language. However, this should not prevent anyone from reading the story all the way through. There are also children's versions of this story as well as a movie starring Martin Sheen.

The story of the "kings" coming to greet the newborn "King of Kings" has been misunderstood for centuries. Implicit in the references is the relationship between the ancient rulers of Persia and the Jewish captives in Babylon. Some of this may be seen in the writings of Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Ezra, Daniel, and Esther.. What is genetally not known also is that the Zarathustrian (Zoroastrian)spiritual advisers to kings of Persia had known (found out) that this "messiah" would be arising from the seed of Abraham .Actually, the story indicates three gifts, but not three kings or wise men. Parenthetically, they were my ancestors.

I love this little book, and every Christmas I buy several copies and give them away. I absolutely believe that this story was "transmitted" to Henry Van Dyke from a source of transcendent knowledge, and while it may not be in the least-bit "factual," there is great truth in it.

Nearly everyone is familiar with the story of the Wise Men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Tradition numbers them at three and names them Caspar, Melchoir, and Balthazar. But did you know the story of "The Other Wise Man"? Artaban, a leader of the Persian Magi, learns from heavenly signs that the time is at hand for the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy about the birth among the Hebrews of a holy Prince and Deliverer of Man. Hastening to join three fellow Magi for the long journey into Judaea, he pauses to help a dying man in Babylon and is left behind. And so Artaban begins his pilgrimage alone.
Artaban then makes it to Bethlehem but finds that he has just missed both his friends and the young child. But before he can hope to catch up with Joseph, Mary, and their child on their way to Egypt, he stops to assist a mother whose child is in danger of being killed by Herod's troops. After searching for His quest in Egypt and not finding it, he then travels from place to place, visiting the oppressed, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, tending the sick, and comforting the captive. After 33 years, he ends up, an aged, white-haired man, in Jerusalem on the day of the Passover. Just as he thinks that he might find the object of his search who is being led away to be crucified, he is beseeched by a young girl from his native Parthia who is being sold into slavery to pay her father's debts. Will he ever see the King for whom He has looked these many years?
Henry Jackson van Dyke (1852-1933) was a Presbyterian minister, professor at Princeton University, President Woodrow Wilson's ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and a noted author who wrote the hymn, "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" set to the "Ode to Joy" theme from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Van Dyke said, "I do not know where this little story came from--out of the air, perhaps. One thing is certain, it is not written in any other book, nor is it to be found among the ancient lore of the East. And yet I have never felt as if it were my own. It was a gift, and it seemed to me as if I knew the Giver." He first read The Story of The Other Wise Man aloud to his New York congregation after writing it and then had it published in written form. It is, in essence, a parable that shows what seeking for Jesus in life is really all about. We did it as a family read aloud, and everyone was moved by the story.

The Story of the Other Wise Man (sometimes just The Other Wise Man) is a 1896 novella by Henry Van Dyke, a professor, preacher and diplomat (He also wrote the words to "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"). This novella has become (and remains) something of a Christmas classic, up there with O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" and such. Here, Artaban, a Parthian magus, intends to travel with his three magi friends to find the infant Jesus. But he is repeatedly delayed by a number of factors, many of which involve him stopping out of compassion to help the needy. In doing so, he wonders if he will ever find Jesus.

The end of the story isn't entirely expected. But Van Dyke's message is transparent throughout - it is by serving others that we best serve God himself (Matthew 25:31-46). Artaban is, to some degree, aware of this, even as he despairs of giving away the treasures he had stored up for Jesus, but on the whole he loses sight of the significance of the good that he does. This inner conflict is not played up to the degree it might have been, but nevertheless this story's impact is powerful.

The Story of the Other Wise Man is mind-bogglingly descriptive. Perhaps half the book is taken up by descriptions like

"The doorway between the pillars, which opened upon the terrace of the roof, was covered with a heavy curtain of the color of a ripe pomegranate, embroidered with innumerable golden rays shooting upward from the floor. In effect the room was like a quiet, starry night, all azure and silver, flushed in the east with the rosy promise of the dawn. It was, as the house of a man should be, an expression of the character and spirit of the master."

This level of detail is a double-edged sword. It's terribly immersive, but it also slows down the story, at times to the degree that the reader may skip ahead. Also, kids and adults will want to keep a dictionary handy.

All things considered, The Story of the Other Wise Man has held up very well, and is rightly a Christmas classic still.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Story of the Other Wise Man (sometimes just The Other Wise Man) is a 1896 novella by Henry Van Dyke, a professor, preacher and diplomat (He also wrote the words to "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"). This novella has become (and remains) something of a Christmas classic, up there with O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" and such. Here, Artaban, a Parthian magus, intends to travel with his three magi friends to find the infant Jesus. But he is repeatedly delayed by a number of factors, many of which involve him stopping out of compassion to help the needy. In doing so, he wonders if he will ever find Jesus.

The end of the story isn't entirely expected. But Van Dyke's message is transparent throughout - it is by serving others that we best serve God himself (Matthew 25:31-46). Artaban is, to some degree, aware of this, even as he despairs of giving away the treasures he had stored up for Jesus, but on the whole he loses sight of the significance of the good that he does. This inner conflict is not played up to the degree it might have been, but nevertheless this story's impact is powerful.

The Story of the Other Wise Man is mind-bogglingly descriptive. Perhaps half the book is taken up by descriptions like

"The doorway between the pillars, which opened upon the terrace of the roof, was covered with a heavy curtain of the color of a ripe pomegranate, embroidered with innumerable golden rays shooting upward from the floor. In effect the room was like a quiet, starry night, all azure and silver, flushed in the east with the rosy promise of the dawn. It was, as the house of a man should be, an expression of the character and spirit of the master."

This level of detail is a double-edged sword. It's terribly immersive, but it also slows down the story, at times to the degree that the reader may skip ahead. Also, kids and adults will want to keep a dictionary handy.

All things considered, The Story of the Other Wise Man has held up very well, and is rightly a Christmas classic still.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Story of the Other Wise Man (sometimes just The Other Wise Man) is a 1896 novella by Henry Van Dyke, a professor, preacher and diplomat (He also wrote the words to "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"). This novella has become (and remains) something of a Christmas classic, up there with O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" and such. Here, Artaban, a Parthian magus, intends to travel with his three magi friends to find the infant Jesus. But he is repeatedly delayed by a number of factors, many of which involve him stopping out of compassion to help the needy. In doing so, he wonders if he will ever find Jesus.

The end of the story isn't entirely expected. But Van Dyke's message is transparent throughout - it is by serving others that we best serve God himself (Matthew 25:31-46). Artaban is, to some degree, aware of this, even as he despairs of giving away the treasures he had stored up for Jesus, but on the whole he loses sight of the significance of the good that he does. This inner conflict is not played up to the degree it might have been, but nevertheless this story's impact is powerful.

The Story of the Other Wise Man is mind-bogglingly descriptive. Perhaps half the book is taken up by descriptions like

"The doorway between the pillars, which opened upon the terrace of the roof, was covered with a heavy curtain of the color of a ripe pomegranate, embroidered with innumerable golden rays shooting upward from the floor. In effect the room was like a quiet, starry night, all azure and silver, flushed in the east with the rosy promise of the dawn. It was, as the house of a man should be, an expression of the character and spirit of the master."

This level of detail is a double-edged sword. It's terribly immersive, but it also slows down the story, at times to the degree that the reader may skip ahead. Also, kids and adults will want to keep a dictionary handy.

All things considered, The Story of the Other Wise Man has held up very well, and is rightly a Christmas classic still.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Short, powerful, nondogmatic story of love and kindness. Viewed from another angle, this is a story of transcending spiritual materialism, of arriving at a spiritual destination through the work of the heart. I stumbled upon this book in a neighborhood thrift store. A 1905 edition, in shabby shape. With a sticker price of $5. I thought about haggling but decided against. Half an hour later, read through it while waiting in a car. I also loved the foreword from HV Dyke, his thoughts on ineffable nature of meaning. Not a believer myself, I particularly appreciated this non-preachy tale of "applied christianity." $5 very well spent.

Written at the end of the 19th Century, this short inspirational fable tells the tale of a fourth wise man, or Magi, who, like his three colleagues, bears gifts in search of the baby Jesus.
The back flap of my edition states:
His purpose was the highest -- to find the King. With much torture of soul, he turned aside time after time to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to heal the sick, to comfort the captive. In one last impulse of love, he denies to himself his great desire, Then wonder of wonders, and joy of joys, he finds that his great desire is accomplished in this very denial. This story has the happiest ending that any story could ever have, a story and an ending that can become true in the lives of every man and woman.
The language is a bit formal and the moral of charity to strangers is basic. Yet there is a charm and wonder to this simple story that makes it an enduring classic. I particularly like the beginning where the practice of Zoroastrianism is described.

Well, except for the original, of course. I treasure the 1901 copy I have of this, as it brings to life the real meanings of Christmas to me more than any other fictional portrayal I have come across. van Dyke writes with clarity and succinctness, communicating the wisdom he claims to receive from the Spirit in the manner of timeless myth. It is well known that there were not three wisemen, but an indeterminate number. This story plays with that theme, and brings up something much better, much deeper, than the imagery in the creches we so often see. The story of Christmas doesn't truly end until Easter, if there. For it's not about a sweet feeling, or feeling comfortable- it's about undying love, about service, about feeling positively uncomfortable. The point is not to give the gifts of precious stones as if Jesus were a king, but to give the gift of life as if Jesus were the King.

With Christmas fast approaching, I would like to recommend a classic Christmas story which is available for free download for electronic readers and in multiple versions of paper and ink books as well as a shorter version you can read online. Written by Henry Van Dyke, The Story of the Other Wise Man introduces the reader to Artaban, the fourth Wise Man.

Van Dyke takes us on a journey through Palestine with Artaban in search of the King who was born in Bethlehem. It seems that Artaban's search is futile and he is frustrated at every turn. CONTINUE READING ARTICLE HERE:
[...]

P. 40: The number "7" -represents completeness in the Bible.

P. 17: "Zoroaster" -(Persian) born between the 18th and 6th century BCE) was an Iranian prophet and philosopher and the founder of Zoroastrianism.

P. 17: "Ahura-Mazda" -(also known as Ohrmazd, Ahuramazda, Hormazd, Aramazd and Azzandara) is the Avestan name for a divinity of the Old Iranian religion who was proclaimed the uncreated God by Zoroaster.

P. 18: "Cleanse us from falsehood" -There are true religious ideas, and false religious ideas. Personal religious opinions are not the ticket into Heaven; only truth is. Psalm 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

P. 18: "Keep us from evil and bondage" - The Bible tells us that the Lord is able to keep His followers from sin in this life: Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy

P. 19: "Porphyry" -a variety of igneous rock consisting of large-grained crystals, such as feldspar or quartz, dispersed in a fine-grained feldspathic matrix or groundmass.

P. 20, 21: "new light and truth are coming to them continually through the old symbols" - In Revelation, as each seal is opened, and "the book" is either opened or partially closed, so is the understanding of God's Word to mankind. We live in the 7th seal age of time, where all knowledge of the Bible is revealed, and much prophesy has already been fulfilled.

P. 22: "But the thoughts of man can be counted, like the years of his life." -1 Corinthians 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Micah 4:12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

P. 22: "But we ourselves know that the darkness is equal to the light" - This theology is not of God, but is Masonic in nature. 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

P. 26: "I have sold my house and my possessions" -Christ requires His followers to be completely devoted to Him in every aspect of their lives: Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

P. 28 "In my house sleeps a new bride, and I cannot leave her...this quest is not for me." -Luke 14:16-26 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. **"hate" meaning simply loving something else more than Christ; giving it precedence over His service**

P. 38: "precipices"- Noun: A very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one.

P. 60: "God of truth, forgive my sin!" -Artaban understands that sinning is an action against directly God, and sees his need for repentance. Psalm 51:2-4 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

P. 65, 66: "rolls of parchment on which the prophesies of Israel were written...foretold the sufferings of the promised Messiah" "Those who seek Him will do well to look among the poor and the lowly, the sorrowful and the oppressed." -Long before Christ's birth, the prophet Isaiah told of His life: Isaiah 53:2-12 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

P. 65: "And the kingdom which is to be established forever is a new kingdom" - James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

P. 80: "The walls of the houses rocked to and fro." - There was an earthquake when Christ died: Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

P. 80: "What had he to fear? ...there was a peace. It was not resignation. It was not submission. It was something more profound and searching." Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

P. 82: Though Artaban's works were great, he knew that repentance was also a key ingredient in obtaining Heaven (see notes on P. 60). James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Doing good works alone will not grant you a place in Heaven. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Revelation 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

P. 85 "His treasures were accepted." 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

This is a good story, but I think it puts too much emphasis on works, rather than faith, repentance and holiness, which are all equally necessary. Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

With Christmas fast approaching, I would like to recommend a classic Christmas story which is available for free download for electronic readers and in multiple versions of paper and ink books as well as a shorter version you can read online. Written by Henry Van Dyke, The Story of the Other Wise Man introduces the reader to Artaban, the fourth Wise Man.

Van Dyke takes us on a journey through Palestine with Artaban in search of the King who was born in Bethlehem. It seems that Artaban's search is futile and he is frustrated at every turn. CONTINUE READING ARTICLE HERE:
[...]

It is the dream of every believer-to meet Jesus. To bow at his feet, to offer all you are to him, and hear him say "Well done my good and faithful servant." So it was for the other wise man. He, however, gives it up to help a dying man. He then, in turn, forfits his place with the other Magi at the birth of Jesus. This is the story of a man who spends his life hunting the dream of every christian on Earth. It is the single most touching story I have ever read. God was truly at work in Mr. Van Dyke.

This wonderful story, often preached as "The Story of the Fourth Wise Man," is beautifully written in the language and flow of another era. I give this book only four stars, however, because the book production values are mediocre. The paper and typeface aren't very good, and there are several typographical errors, which I think are inexcusable. Very much worth buying for yourself and as gifts, however, as a moving reminder of the true meaning of Christianity (and not just at Christmas).

The Other Wise Man is a great story. This version, shortened to tell to children, was the right length for my purpose. I read the story aloud at our family Christmas gathering and it touched everyone's heart, young and old. The tale describes a fourth wise man who is delayed because he helped people in need on his way to see the newborn King. He feels sadness that he failed to bring his gifts to the Christ child, but is assured in the end that God noticed his kindness to those he met. A great story, beautifully illustrated.
There was one flaw: the cover on this book was mounted backwards! I would not have wanted to use it as a gift for this reason, but it suited my purpose well and I sent it on to my grandson out of state who missed the family party.
I heartily recommend the book for children or adults. It gives an excellent parable of the way our response to others is actually a response to Christ.

Henry Van Dyke is an incredible author. This little Christmas story is one of his best. It takes a well-known story about the 3 wisemen and adds a new twist. He takes us down a path that we think is so familiar and then shocks us with the fact that a life well-lived is not defined by God the way we define it.

Through the travels of the "Other Wise Man" we learn how to love others, how to show compassion and how to open our hearts to those God loves.

This story is a plausible account of a fourth Wise Man who fails to meet the other three Magi on the appointed night. Therefore, he spends his entire life searching for the King who is promised. He follows the star. He goes to Egypt. He returns to Israel. He always misses the Messiah. He spends his gifts to feed the poor and dying, save a child, and again saving a girl from slavery. When he finds Jesus, He has nothing to give. However, Jesus accepts his gifts. This was written as a sermon by Henry Van Dyke, a Presbyteian Minister who became a College professor of English. It is a very powerful story told in a magnificent way.

My Grandmother read this classic story to me when I was a child. Now I read this story to my grandchildren. This is a timeless tale for all ages.

Also recomended: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--another classic holiday story.

Henry Van Dyke was a preacher, university professor, diplomat, poet, translator, and the author of many inspiational writings. His most famous work is "The Story of the Other Wise Man", one of the best loved and most inspiring of all Christmas classics.

The first time I ran accross this beautiful story was when I was a young teenager. I saw it as a movie (cartoon) created by the LDS church. The movie was so enganting that I had to find the book (at the local library) and read it. The book was wonderful. It was many years ago that I read this book and I honestly thought it was no longer being published...what a nice surprize to find that it is still being published, I will buy it for myself, family and close friends....what a great way to celebrate Christmas, by reading this truely spirit filled book. It's a small but powerful book.

The Other Wise Man truly puts things into perspective about to gain what one wants in life. It comes only through service to others & seeking to do something that makes a real difference in the lives of those around me. It isn't so much a case of being religious as realizing there are spiritual principles in life, that if observed, lead one to a fulfilling life by helping others in need. Do that & one will truly live a life with meaning & purpose.

This story was facinating. I read it to my sunday school class and they loved it. After the story they drew pictures of what they would give Jesus for a gift. The story was very easy to follow and understand. The children said that the wiseman gave the best of all gifts: he loved everyone as he would have others love him. He gave the greatest gift of all: himself.