Three Wise Man of the Orient…….
(This
is my version of the Christmas Three Wise Men and
their
journey to praise the birth of Jesus)
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“Come on Casper, please try to keep up with us” Melchior looked over to Balthasar and
raised his eyes up to the heavens. “Let him be”
Balthasar looked back over his shoulder and quietly said to Melchior “The signs
are telling us that the time is close and that we near the place. If
we camp here tonight I have a feeling that we should be
there by noon tomorrow”. Melchior looked
up into the evening sky and saw that the star they had been following for many
months since it had first appeared in the heavens. “You could be
right my friend – soon it will be so”.
Melchior was the senior of the three and the most experienced in the
secret art of astrology. It was he who had first
identified the mystical star that shone bright in the westerly sky and had
convinced his fellow princes to partake of the journey.
Ancient stories had foretold of such a phenomenon and forecast the
star’s appearance to announce that a new King of the Jews would
be born under its bright light.
Balthasar, who had been a student under Melchior for several years,
answered the call without hesitation whilst Casper, the younger by many years
of the three, reluctantly decided to join them. He was
much too fond of the good life back home in the college at Saveh in
the capital city of his beautiful homeland, Persia (now Iran). He was in fact tired of the camel
ride and homesick for his comforts........
They erected their tent and lit a fire as the temperature dropped
signalling a chilly night. “Keep yourself well wrapped up Casper” Balthasar
called to his younger friend “I do not want your father and mother to claim that
we did not look after you”.
“Why on earth did we not bring some of our many servants with us” Casper called back “It would have made the journey all the more
comfortable”.
Melchior slept badly and during the night he left the tent and went
outside. In the distance he saw the bright lights of a city
and from his reckoning and the parchment map he carried, he decided that it
must be Jerusalem. However, he did not awaken the
others to tell them the news.
Dawn broke late, it being just past the winter solstice, and he lit a
fire. It was while they were having a light breakfast
that he told the others about Jerusalem. Casper was delighted
as it meant that he could soon sleep in a proper bed for the first time in many
months. A while later they recommenced their journey.
After an hour or so, they rode their camels up to the gates of what was
indeed a great city. When the Roman Captain of the guard heard
that three ‘royal’ visitors were about to enter the city, he called
out the guard and greeted them according to their
rank. News of their arrival had preceded them and they
were expected.
King Herod, the provincial Roman governor,
who ruled the city and surrounding lands was delighted that he was about to be
visited by such guests and instructed that they be given the best
residence available and when rested they be brought
straight to his quarters.
An hour later, they were escorted into the presence of Herod’. After
pleasantries had been exchanged, Herod asked “And what is the nature of your
travels. I have heard of your adventure and was curious to hear the
reasons from your own lips”.
Melchior replied with some element of surprise in his voice. “But sire, we
came to partake of the celebrations”. Herod was puzzled.
“Celebrations?”
he asked. “Yes” spoke Casper “we came to
pay our respects to the one who is to be born
King of the Jews”.
“I know of no such event” Herod genuinely told them, “I am afraid that your journey has been in vain”. Casper
showed signs of total disappointment at the thought of resuming the journey but
Melchior and Balthasar merely looked at each other but said not a word.
“As you say sire” Melchior spoke
softly “but with your permission we will continue to search for a little
longer”. “By all means” Herod appeared
puzzled “and if you find him, please send me a message that I too may pay my
humble respects”.
With that the three Magi left Herod, returned to their temporary
residence, packed their belongings and left the city. Casper
had a look of doom on his face..........
As soon as Herod had confirmation from his Captain of the guard that
they had left the city, he sent an urgent message to the Jewish Chief Rabbi to
attend promptly. When he arrived Herod came straight to the
point. “Tell me what you know about a King of the Jews
that has or is about to be born”. “I know of no
such event haven taken place sire” the Rabbi
said. Herod then related what the three Magi had told him.
The Chief Priest hesitated then began slowly as if searching his mind
for the correct text. “It is written sire, that such a one would be born
of the Jews”. He again hesitated as if searching
for the exact words of the ancient ones: he continued “Out of Judah
will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people – Israel”. Herod
brought his fist hard down on a table beside
him and called his Captain of the guard.
“The three princes who just left, in which direction did they travel?” he asked. “To the west sire” his
subordinate answered. “I want you to take your fastest horse and give
chase. When you find them, tell them that the place they are
looking for is in the land of Judah. Tell
them I will follow shortly to give praise. Have them followed to see where
exactly they go and with
whom they meet.”. With that the
Captain left.
Upon realising that they were indeed being followed and fearing what
Herod might do, the three Magi changed direction and made their way to where
they were directed by the star in a circular route. As
evening and the darkness arrived, the star that they had been following shone
brighter than any night previously. They followed and it led
to some caves on the outskirts of the village known as Bethlehem.
Melchior was the first to speak. “My friends” he
said to his companions “the time is right and we are close to the one we
seek. I do not understand why a King would be born in such
surroundings but be that as it may, He is nearby”.
They went from cave to cave which were used as shelter for
animals. On looking into the final cave, they were greeted by a bright light
– a light far brighter than the torch therein could possibly have
provided. As they entered they saw a young
woman lying on the straw close to a donkey
and some chickens. A tall bearded man stood
nearby whilst close-by in a basket used for feed for the animals, wrapped in
white cloth, lay a newborn child.
All three stood in silence as they looked on in awe........
It was Casper oddly enough who was first to make a
movement. He moved over to the manger wherein lay the baby,
knelt down in the straw and spoke softly. “My Lord and
my God” was all he said as he was joined by his two
friends. All three knelt in silence and the baby’s parents
watched as the three men dressed in such finery looked on at their newborn son.
Again it was Casper who made the first move. He
returned to their camels and brought forward a small
trunk. He took it back into the cave and handed his friends
each a small packet. He placed his own small purse
beside the child. “Gold my Lord” he said “so that you
may never need for anything”. Melchior produced a container of Frankincense and
added “So that you may always smell like a King, my Lord”. Balthasar
placed a small container of Myrrh. He quietly
said, as if to prevent the child’s parents from hearing him, “For your anointment
sire, when your death comes as the stars have further foretold”.
As they continued to look at the child for quite a time, others began to
arrive at the cave entrance. There were shepherds from nearby
hills and fields, workers from the nearby houses and children who had been
awoken by their parents to come and see the three princes in their fine robes. All
stood at the entrance craning their necks to see what was happening.
“Balthasar and Casper” Melchior spoke softly “It is time
to leave, our duty is done and that which the great star foretold has come to
pass”. The others nodded in agreement and all
three quietly left the cave.
As they began to ride their camels back in the direction of Jerusalem,
they were suddenly confronted by a man dressed all in white carrying a bright
torch. “Good sires” the person
spoke with authority “do not return to Herod but take a different route back to your own country. For
if you tell him of what you saw, he will do his utmost to kill the child and
every other child of a similar age throughout the land. Do not
speak of what you saw this night. Now go in peace”................
The three Magi were indeed wise men – they did as they were asked by the
stranger and although Herod was furious when he discovered what they had done,
the baby known as Jesus survived by escaping with his parents to a
distant safe land..........
------------Mike---------------
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