And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus
The Wise Men - II

CRADLE OF MAJESTY
����������� STOP!� Stop everything right now.� This is none of your business.� This is not your religion.� It's ours, and we have everything the way we want it.� We cannot abide any outsiders.� You'll just come in and change everything.
����������� Forget your star search or whatever you call it.� You are not wanted.� This is our religion, our king, our Deliverer.� We know what's going on.� You don't.� You'll disrupt everything.� Stop before you start intruding into things you don't understand.�
BC 5 [1]
Ecbatana, Media [2]
����������� And so they move on.� Following the ever-fading memory of the star.� The star they have thus far followed to all the wrong places.���������
����������� Upon their arrival, the four magi - Vish Taspa, Ashoka, Dayukku and Nebo - go immediately to the gigantic library that holds the archives.� Nebo is in high spirits.� He is the only one who is.
����������� "Among these national archives," he explains in the courtyard, "are documents of kingdoms the Babylonians and later the Medes and Persians conquered centuries ago.� We brought each country's archives here, along with their more educated citizens." [3]
����������� "We saw the religious records of those countries over in Nippur," Ashoka responds, as they walk inside and look up at the ornate ceiling.� "Are you suggesting the star we saw might mean the beginning of a new kingdom, one more powerful than even the Roman Empire is today?"
����������� "That is an unequivicable yes!" Nebo replies without hesitation.
����������� "You cannot know that.� No one can predict the future that successfully," Dayukku objects, pausing to look at an open scroll in an unusual language.
����������� "But they already did."� Nebo leads them down the long dark aisles, talking as he goes.
����������� "What do you mean?"
����������� "The Jewish religious writings predicted the downfall of numerous kingdoms including Egypt long before it actually occurred.� As you are well aware, all the kingdoms on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea long ago fell under the power of Babylon, then the Medes and Persians, then the Greeks, and finally now the Romans.
����������� "One prophet actually predicted that the Jews taken exile to Babylon would be freed - the exact year," Nebo continues proudly.� "The seventieth year of their captivity. [4]� Furthermore, another prophet predicted the exact name of the emperor who would free them - over a century before he was born ~ Cyrus." [5]
����������� Nebo knows exactly where the archives are that he needs.� He has been here before.
����������� "As is widely known to historians, one of our country's magian government leaders six hundred years ago was Daniel, a descendant of Jewish royalty.� He was greatly respected and held in high esteem by our emperor himself." [6]
����������� "Daniel himself wrote a book which he left behind in our archives.� Oh, here we are.� If you will be seated, I will find it and read the portion that predicted the unknowable centuries before it occurred." [7]
����������� The other magi wait.� Hoping Nebo is right.� Wishing it had been they who had been right.� Trying not to think the end of their long search might be in sight, lest they be too disappointed instead.� Occasionally one of them gets up and looks at the titles of the scrolls on the shelves nearby, hoping to see something that might be helpful.
����������� "Here it is," Nebo finally says.� "During the time of King Nebuchadnezzar six hundred years ago, Daniel predicted the rise and fall of the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Grecians.� The fourth kingdom he predicted would crush everything in its way.� That fourth kingdom, gentlemen, is the Roman empire of our own world.
����������� "Now listen to this, and I quote:� 'During the time of the last kings, Jehovah, the only God, will establish a kingdom that will never end....It will destroy every other kingdom, but it will never end.' " [8]
����������� Never end?� The words swirl about in their heads, trying to drown the seeds of doubt.� After all, such predictions should be impossible.
����������� "Did Nebuchadnezzar believe it?" Vish Taspa responds, breaking the silence.
����������� "The king made Daniel ruler over the province of Babylon with daily access to the royal court."
����������� Nebo reaches for another scroll.� It is a continuation of Daniel's writings.� "Furthermore, he gave the exact year the predicted one would be anointed as high priest and king of the kingdom."
����������� The others stare at Nebo, not daring to believe.� He goes on.�
����������� "Since Jewish priests cannot serve until they are thirty years old, if the priest king was born with the star last year, he would begin ruling exactly 29 years from now." [9]
����������� The other magi look at each other with doubt in their eyes and wonder in their minds.� Nebo waits as they absorb his words.� Finally one of them breaks the silence.� It is Ashoka.
����������� "Prove it.� Show us where he predicted the exact year."
����������� In anticipation of their request, Nebo has found the passage.�
����������� "Here it is, gentlemen.� It's been in our archives six hundred years.� No one had anything to gain by changing it.� This is what it says:� 'Pay attention:� From the time the king orders Jerusalem rebuilt until the Anointed One - the priest and king comes - it will be seven 'sevens' and sixty-two 'sevens.'� So, 7 x 7 = 49.� And 62 x 7 = 434.� Adding these together, you get 483 years. [10]
����������� "Our Jewish book of Ezra says King Artaxerxes ordered Ezra to return to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the city during his seventh year. [11]� Artaxerxes gave this order 453 years ago as of last year when the star appeared. [12]� If this priest king begins to reign when he is age 30, that will make it exactly 483 years."
����������� Vish Taspa, Ashoka and Dayukku sit and stare at Nebo in disbelief.� The kind of disbelief that secretly wants to believe, but which dares not.� The kind of disbelief that keeps them safe from commitment to their own King Phraattes.� Too many facts could be too easily proven wrong.� Then would come their executions.� But, what if....
����������� Still they sit and ponder.� Nebo lets them.� They know without looking what Nebo is doing.� He is smiling.� Almost gloating.� The see-I-told-you-so kind of gloating.� It's too soon to tell him he's right.� He cannot be right.
����������� Vish Taspa, always the take-charge man, speaks first.� "Well, uh, gentlemen, uh, perhaps we need to investigate the other writings of this Daniel.� Did you say he had other writings, Nebo?"
����������� "Yes.� Would you like to search for a reference to a star?" Nebo continues, trying to help along their stubborn wills.
����������� Dayukku clears his throat.� "Indeed.� That is what should be done."
����������� Ashoka mutters.� "You won't find any mention of a star there.� But we must examine it to make sure."
����������� Nebo finds several copies of the scroll and gives one to each of them.� Each finds a place to seat himself and read.� With a fine-toothed comb they must read.� It is critical.� Are they close to their answer for their King Phraattes?� It could mean their elevation to the highest magism in the empire.� Is it possible?
����������� One by one they read the predictions regarding world powers that they know for fact came true.� About Babylon, about Persia, about Greece, about Rome.� How can this be?� It is impossible!
����������� They read about Daniel's defiance of the great god of the Babylonians, Marduk.� They admire his courage and the fact that he survives through four emperors in the royal courts.
����������� They read about his dream.� One by one they go to the librarian to request copies of the zodiac charts to determine the significance of the lion, bear and leopard among the stars.� But nothing they figure out makes sense.�
����������� They read of another dream of a ram and goat.� This dream startles them.� One of the horns of the goat throws some of the starry host out of the heavens and down to earth to be trampled.� They are even more startled to read that the ram represents the kings of Media and Persia, and the goat the king of Greece, obviously Alexander the Great. [13]
����������� To their astrological minds, the ram represents good and the goat represents evil.� Will evil succeed in conquering good?
����������� Next they read for themselves the prediction of how many years it will be from the order to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the Priest King comes to reign over the world.
����������� They continue to read.� Strange things.� Startling things.� Things they wish they had not read.�
����������� Then they come to it.� It is toward the end of Daniel's writings.�
����������� "Hordes who lie buried in the earth will come back.� Some will be delivered to live forever, others to die forever.� Wisemen will radiate like the heavens, and they who lead others to the right way will be like the stars!" [14]
����������� Staggered, they reread the passage.� Wisemen....� wisemen....� wisemen....� The word catches them and won't let go.� They, the magi, are supposed to be the wisemen.� But, it warns not all the wisemen will be accepted.� What must they do?
����������� Over and over they read the passage.� What must they do to be accepted?� They must lead others to righteousness.� Lead others?
����������� They read on a little farther.� Then, THERE IT IS!� The Star!� Each truly wise man, they read, will receive his own star!� It is the wise who will shine like stars!
����������� No, this cannot be.� They have been caught up in the moment.� But they will not be fooled again.� They'd been fooled by references to a star in the Hindu writings, the Buddhist writings, the Zoroaster writings, and the others.� They will not be fooled again.
����������� "Sorry, Nebo," Ashoka finally says, walking over to his colleague.� "It's not enough.� It doesn't prove anything."
����������� But Nebo is not through with them.
�����������"Gentlemen, in these archives are the books of the Law of the Jews, commonly called the Law of Moses.� The Jews also have books only of prophecy.� We will read them all, just like we did the other religious writings, and look for any references to a star.� Agreed?"
����������� Knowing they have run through the gambit of their options, the other three reluctantly agree.� It will take time.� Possibly another month.� But it is necessary.� They must be able to report something to their King Phraattes.� That, or remain in exile.
����������� The next day they return to the archives.� They obtain copies of the scrolls they need, and retire to reading rooms.� Day after day they read.� But to no avail.� Absolutely nothing.
����������� A week passes.� Then Vish Taspa spots it.� With guarded excitement, he calls the others and reads it to them:� " ' A star will come out of Israel's descendants.� A crown will rise out of the kingdom.' [15]� So, we have one reference to a star and it being a king.� But we need more than this."
����������� After the others have found the passage and read it for themselves, they agree it has possibilities.� But they must have more evidence.�
����������� Since this passage is near the end of the Jewish law books, a few days later they are ready to begin reading the prophets.� The first is Isaiah.� They do not have long to wait. [16]
����������� Ashoka sees it first.� He calls the others.� "Listen to this, gentlemen."� He clears his throat.� " 'People in night darkness saw a great light, a light that has just appeared....For a baby has just been born, he will govern and be called....' "
����������� Ashoka stops reading.� He looks at the others.� They look back expectantly.� He finishes the passage.� In slow motion.
����������� "'....He will be called God!!!'"
����������� Once more he pauses.� The four magi stare at each other.� Old Dayukku's hands tremble.� Ashoka wipes his brow.�
����������� " His kingdom will never end!� He will reign where King David did forever! " [17]������
����������� They go back to their reading.� Now with a sense of wonder.� A sense of awe.� It is not until they read to nearly the end of Isaiah's writings that they find another mention of the light and what they should do about it.� Dayukku spots it first.� He shouts from his reading room and the others mark their reading place and rush to him.
����������� "Did you find something, Dayukku?"� Do they dare allow themselves to hope?� Without comment he reads it to them.
����������� "  'The light will come to the whole world and all kingdoms of the world will come see it!' " [18]
����������� "That settles it!" Nebo declares.� "We, too, must go to Israel - Palestine, or whatever you call it - to see and honor this light who will rule the world!"
����������� Without hesitation, Vish Taspa agrees.� "It would be the prudent thing to do.� Our King Phraattes will want to stay on good terms with this child king, this god."
�����������"My king will also."� It is Ashoka.� He has not lived in India for a long time, but he feels confident that his King Gondophares will want to be represented also. [19]� "I must leave at once.� I will get gifts and letters from my king and meet you at Ctesiphon."
����������� "Should we approach Augustus Caesar about this?"� It's Nebo.� He's sure his Jewish king will be powerful enough to conquer Rome some day.
����������� "That's up to King Phraattes."
�����������"So it is settled.� We meet in Ctesiphon in a month."
Ctesiphon, Persia [20]
����������"Your majesty, Vish Taspa, Dayukku, and Nebo wish an audience with you."
����������� "Really?� I never expected to see them again.� Didn't I warn them never to come back unless they had an explanation of the star?� How long ago was that?� So they're back.� At least three out of four are.� Lost one of them, huh?� Good thinking.� Do they expect to impress me this time?� No one else did.� Oh, well, nothing much else is going on today.� May as well have an execution.� Send them in."
����������� Vish Taspa, Dayukku and Nebo walk toward their king with heads bowed, then bow completely to the floor at the throne.� They are permitted to rise and talk freely with the king.� They have brought scrolls with them.� One by one they go over their findings in the Jewish writings.�
����������� Not fully convinced, King Phraattes insists on reading the proof passages himself.� He is amazed.� Amazed that they seem to contain the only logical answer.� But even more amazed to learn that a god might have been born in his own lifetime.
����������� "I've never seen a god before.� I would like to see this god and pay homage to him," the king says.� "But it is not possible."� He has detected serious unrest in the palace and decides against being away from his kingdom at this time. [21]� He will protect his throne.� At least a little longer.
����������� Sensing uncommon loyalty, the king announces, "Since you are the ones who made the discovery, you will go as my ambassadors."
�����������"Your majesty," Vish Taspa hurries to explain, "Ashoka has returned to India to tell King Gondophares about this.� We agreed to wait for him."
�����������"Well, the four of you could represent the two empires.� That is good.� We should do things in allegiance with India now and then.� However, we will not pass this information on to Rome.� I do not want to be the bearer of bad news." [22]
����������� "Yes, your majesty."
����������� A month later Ashoka returns from India.� By then the other magi have arranged for the gifts they will take to the priest king who apparently is also a god.� They have made arrangements for a caravan to carry supplies and provide protection across the long desert.� It will take five months to make the trip to the land of Israel, the land of Palestine. [23]
BC 4
Jerusalem, Judea
����������� The journey is long and hard.� But they know they are doing the right thing.� As they near Palestine, which is what Israel is called now, they wonder how the people there must be reacting.� Festivals?� A new palace being built?� A new temple?
����������� The magi are puzzled when they cross the border.� Life as usual.� No excitement.� King Herod still reigns.� If he knows about the child-king, he has refused to officially recognized him.������
����������� The Jews stare inquisitively at the regal magi and their entourage.� What are these foreigners doing here anyway?� The magi do not tell anyone.� They sense something is wrong.� They are certain, however, their presence is reported to King Herod.
����������� They arrive in Jerusalem.� As representatives of two great oriental kingdoms, they must seek an audience with King Herod.
����������� After several attempts, they manage to arrange a meeting.� King Herod will give them ten minutes.� That's all.� But they must wait a week for the meeting.� They are told to be grateful for that much time with such an important world leader. [24]
����������� Finally, the week is over, and the entourage returns to the palace.� Their meeting is confusing.� King Herod just stares blankly at them when they ask where the next priest king is so they can pay their country's tribute.� Is King Herod keeping it a secret so this new king can pounce on unsuspecting kingdoms when he comes to power?� What's going on, anyway?�
����������� "Time's up!" King Herod responds abruptly and stoically.� "It's been a pleasure meeting you." They sense he is lying.
�����������"But the city, your majesty.� Which city is the child in?"
�����������";I tell you what," the king responds as he escorts the� magi to the door.� "Wait a few days, and I'll call you."
����������� The door closes.� The four remount their camels and head slowly back to the inn.� Dignified.� Regal.� Strange.
����������� People stare at them suspiciously.� Some run from them as they approach.� The magi stare back, wondering what has gone so terribly wrong.� Why aren't the people rejoicing?� He's their priest king.� He's their god.� Surely they, too, saw the star.� What did their priests say it meant?� Surely they know. �They have to know.� What are they hiding?� Or hiding from? [25]
����������� Four dignitaries and four days.�
����������� Something is wrong.� Every home with scriptures in it, but everyone remains silent.� Where are the ceremonies and celebrations?� The pomp and parades?� It's all wrong. Everything's quiet.� Too quiet. [26]
��� ������� But God is still in charge.� If the people cannot reassure the foreign ambassadors they're on the right track, God will have to do it himself.
����������� God gets out his ignitor and his flare.� God is about to relight his star.�
����������� A knock on the door.� His majesty King Herod has agreed to see them one more time - for ten minutes.� He's sending his own chariot, for they'll be seeing him in his private quarters.� They are told this is a great privilege! [27]
����������� The four magi arrive and are escorted by a soldier to a back door, and then through an unobtrusive inner door. [28]
����������� "Come in, gentlemen.� Sorry to have kept you waiting," King Herod says warmly.� "But I had to check you out, of course.� I am prepared now to tell you where our new child-king is."
����������� "Your majesty, we are most grateful."
�����������"He's in Bethlehem, in the province of Judea.� That's the same province Jerusalem is in, and not too far away." [29]
����������� "You're saying, then, that he really exists.� We've found him."
����������� The foreigners are wary.� Something's terribly wrong.� No one is paying attention to the whole event.� Their conversation becomes guarded.
����������� "Thank you, sir.� We'll be on our way now."
����������� "By the way, I haven't had time to pay him a visit yet myself - what with all my responsibilities.� Stop by here on your way back.� I'd like to see how he's getting along.� I do need to make time to go see him, you know.� Probably in a couple of months." [30]
����������� "Yes, your majesty.� We will do that.� Thank you."
����������� The king's chariot returns them to their inn.� Despite the fact that it is nearly evening, the magi waste no time in ordering their personal guards on standby, their camels saddled, and their belongings gathered up.� They must leave Jerusalem before the king changes his mind.� They do not completely trust him.
����������� As they go through the gates of Jerusalem, they hear behind them the creaking of hinges.� The gates are being closed for the night.� They are not worried.� Their guards are the best in Persia, and Bethlehem is not far away.�
����������� On the road again.� After five months of travel, a few more hours will seem as nothing.� Each magum becomes engulfed in his own thoughts.� Empty stares into an empty evening sky.� Wondering what is going on.�
����������� Somehow they know this obscure baby in an obscure town is destined to be more powerful than King Herod the Great.� Or Persia.� Or Rome.� Or all the kingdoms of the world.�
����������� Still they stare ahead along the darkened road between the holy city and the little town of Bethlehem.� Wondering.�
����������� Why are they the only ones looking for the new-born priest king?� Don't these people know what's going on right under their noses?� Don't they care?� He's their God.� Can't they see?� Are they that blind?�
����������� Yes, wondering.
����������� Suddenly empty stares turn to astonishment.� A great light!� Zooming out of an ethereal distance!�
����������� The light!� The star is back!� We were right!� It's his star!� He IS indeed going to be king!� And he will rule the whole world in peace.� He IS indeed God!� He will live forever!� The impossible star has once more proven it.
����������� They stop their camels and stare with new understanding.� Their excitement slips into awe.� Finally they continue on their awesome journey in silence.� Deep, deep silence.�
����������� Light.� Enlightenment.� A thought comes to Vish Taspa.� Could this baby be the great Buddha reincarnated?� But if he merged with the essence of the universe, why would he return to earth?� That's backwards.� That's punishment.� God now a baby....� God now a baby....� Why would a god allow himself to be punished?
����������� They watch the star.� So light.� So bright.� So captivating.� They feel enslaved to it, but they do not care.� They want to be.� Strangely, they want to be. [31]
Bethlehem, Judea
����������� They arrive at Bethlehem about midnight.� One of their personal guards shouts up to the guard in charge of the gate.
����������� "Open up!� We're here from the Orient!� We've come to pay tribute to the new-born king!"
����������� "What king?� We don't have any kings here!"
����������� "The descendant of David!" Nebo calls up. [32]
����������� "Well, you've got the right city.� King David was born here.� And some day we'll have a great king born in this very town.� But it hasn't happened yet."
����������� "Don't you see the star?� That's his star."
����������� "What star?" the guard responds.
����������� "Man, can't you see what's happening tonight?"
����������� "Oh, all that light?� It's probably a reflection of camp fires up in the hills." [33]
����������� "Don't you see the tail of the light?"
�����������"Yeah, but even if it is a star, it would be like the end of a rainbow.� You don't ever really come to it.� Are you astrologers or something?"
�����������"Please!� We have letters from the King of Persia and the King of India.� May we come in?"� It is Ashoka.
����������� The guard comes down from his post and walks through the smaller door in the larger gate in and out of Bethlehem.� He looks at the letters.� He cannot read very well.� But they seem authentic enough.� And these grand camels.� Surely they are not impostors.
����������� "Very well.� You may come in.� But you'll have to enter through the smaller door.� No one comes in through the large gate at night."
����������� "That is agreeable,"Dayukku replies.
����������� Gradually the four magi and their guards work their way through the gate, sometimes called the eye of a needle.
����������� Now what?"
����������� "The star," Vish Taspa replies.� "It's beam seems to be pinpointing something."
����������� "Stars don't do that!� But we all see it!"
����������� "Then let's get going!"
����������� The small caravan works its way as quietly as possible through the darkened streets of Bethlehem.
����������� Nebo signals everyone to stop.
����������� They know why.� They have actually found it.� The tail of the star.� It is shimmering above a roof top.�
����������� It is a small house on an extra narrow street.� Even in the dark, the magi can tell it is not a well-to-do part of town.�
����������� "Samgar," Vish Taspa says quietly to one of the guards.� "Stay out here.� If this is the right place, we will send for you."
����������� "Well, this is it, gentlemen," Dayukku says softly.� The King of Kings.� The Priest of Priests.� The one predicted centuries ago.  The God Man."
����������� No one in the neighborhood seems awake.
����������� Neither is anyone else in their country.� All asleep.� All dream of being awake, but they are not.� All dream, too, that they understand and see it all.� But they are blind.
����������� "Gentlemen," Nebo says with a rather shaky voice.� He is trying to control it.� How proud he is.� "Shall we?"
����������� The four slowly approach the door.� How does one greet a god?� A knock.� Nothing happens.� They're forced to knock louder.� One of the guards comes over to help.� They wait.�
����������� Shortly, the door creeks and is opened.� A man stands in the doorway.�
���������� "Yes?"
����������� They get right to the point.� "We have come to honor the new-born priest king, the god man.� We have traveled from Persia and India.� We saw his star on the night he was born."
����������� "You saw his star?" Joseph replies.� "You know about the star?� You know he'll be the priest king some day?� You know it all?"
����������� "Yes, sir.� King of all kings, is what your Daniel said."
����������� That is all Joseph needs.� It is obvious that these four strangers know.� He opens the door wider and steps aside so they may enter.� He feels awkward.� The visitors are dressed in the finest garments he has ever seen or dreamed of.
� ��������";I will get him and his mother," Joseph whispers.� "Please wait in here."
����������� As acquainted as the four magi are to regality, pomp and ceremony, a lump rises to their throats, and their hearts beat faster.� They unite with the pulse of the universe.� What will the child be like?
����������� They sit.� They wait.� They hear low voices in an adjoining room.� Then shuffling.� Moments later a pretty young lady walks out with a toddler in her arms.� They are both squinting from the light.
����������� Mary stops, not sure what to do.� It is obvious by their dress and demeanor that these four men are important.� She's never been around such dignified men like these before.� Not up close.
����������� The four dignitaries immediately bow with their heads to the floor.� They hope it is enough for a god.
����������� Mary is embarrassed.� They remain prostrate.� Anxiously, Mary looks over at Joseph.� He clears his throat, and as regally as he can, he says, "You may rise."
����������� The visitors rise and Joseph provides rough cushions for them to sit.� They refuse to be seated until Mary and Joseph are.� They try to make Mary feel more at ease.� But they compound her nervousness.� For they, too, are nervous.
����������� "We saw your star," Nebo explains. [34]
����������� "Our star?� Jesus' star?� You saw it?� No one else seemed to notice.� It didn't last long, you know."
�����������"Yes, we know," Ashoka adds.� "But we instantly knew there was significance somewhere.� We searched every way we knew how.� We searched the heavens, we searched our archives, and we finally found the answer."
����������� Vish Taspa speaks.� "This little child will some day rule the entire world as the King of Peace?� He will have the power of a god?"
����������� "No, there is one God," Joseph explains.� "He will have the power of the one and only God, Jehovah."
����������� Mary realizes that no one besides her family, the shepherds who came that night, and a couple of people at the Temple in Jerusalem have acknowledged who and what Jesus is.�
����������� Now foreigners understand.� Foreigners.� Do they even believe in God?� It's all wrong.� Where are her own countrymen, Mary wonders for the hundredth time.
����������� "Does he walk yet?" asks Dayukku.
����������� "Of course," Mary laughs, glad for the change of pace.� "He's been walking for six months now.� Would you like to watch him?� Jesus, go see Daddy." Mary puts him down on the floor.
����������� The Son of God holds on to his mother's hand a moment to catch his balance, then toddles over to Joseph.� "Atta, boy, Jesus!"
����������� It occurs to one of the magum that this couple is not aware the star is back.� The shutters are drawn for the evening.
����������� "Joseph, if you will, please open one of your shutters."� Puzzled, Joseph complies, little Jesus in his arms.
�����������"Star, Daddy!� Star!"
����������� Little stubby fingers point up into heaven.�  "Star!"
����������� "Where did you learn that word, Jesus?"
����������� No one has had to teach it to him.� He� knows.� His big eyes open even wider.� A single tooth is displayed.� Jesus repeats, "Star!� Song!� Star!� Song!"
����������� "The angels announced it to some shepherds that night," Mary explains.� "I think Jesus is referring to their announcement.� I think he knows."
����������� "Do you think he'd walk over to us a minute?" Dayukku asks, his voice quaking as never before.
����������� Joseph turns toward the magi with new understanding.� "Jesus, would you like to go see the nice men who came to see you?"
����������� Jesus smiles and tugs at Joseph's arms to let him down.� His feet again touch the floor.� Little Jesus toddles over to the great wise men from the Orient.
����������� They grin.� They're grinning at God.� They're taking hold of God's hand and placing it in their own.� One of them is kissing God.� God giggles.�
����������� But Mary, still nervous, goes over and picks up her holy offspring and takes Jesus back with her to her seat.
����������� The four men regain their composure.�"We have brought gifts as tokens of esteem from our countries," Vish Taspa announces.� "Please give us a moment."
����������� He excuses himself, bows, and walks backward the best he can to the door and out into the street.� A few moments later he leads some of their guards into the crowded little room.� They are carrying ornate chests.
����������� "First," he continues, "may I introduce Ashoka.� He comes representing his country, India, and his king, King Gondophares."
����������� Ashoka bows in respect before the mother and child.�
����������� "Please allow me the honor and privilege of presenting the child with this chest of frankincense.� Just as you burn incense in your temple to your god, and we burn incense in our temples to our gods, we offer it now to this child.� On the day he declares to the world that he is a god, burn this incense to him and tell him it was from us."
����������� Jesus reaches out and touches the pretty inlaid mother-of-pearl lid.� Joseph takes it and sets it on a sturdy table nearby.
����������� "Next, may I introduce Nebo, the Babylonian who kept telling us we needed to read the writings of the Jews."
����������� "Your highness.� Your honor."� Nebo is not sure by what title he should address the child priest king.� "Your majesty.� Young sir," he continues, "please allow me to present you with this chest of the finest myrrh in the world.� Save it for his coronation day.� The day when he will be anointed priest and king, not only of your small country, but of the entire world.� Remind him that India and Persia came and honored him.� We pray he will give special honor to our two countries as a result."
����������� Jesus plays for a moment with the amethyst knob on the lid of the chest.� Joseph takes it, too, and sets it on the floor near the other gift.
�����������"Last there are Dayukku and myself, Vish Taspa.� We are both from Persia, though Dayukku is actually Median."
����������� Old Dayukku steps forward.� Two guards step around him to present another grand chest, though smaller than the others.
����������� "There is enough gold in this chest to make the grandest crown in the world.� There will also be enough gold for a sceptor.�� As your own prophets predicted, the sceptor will never leave him.� He will have a kingdom of peace that will reach the entire world.�� And he will reign forever.� For, even though he was born, he will never die.� He is a god and cannot die.� And he will create a holy kingdom that will never die"
����������� Joseph, knowing how heavy gold is, motions to the guards where to place the small chest.� Little Jesus crawls down from his mother's lap, goes over to the chest, and playfully sits on it.� But it is cold and he jumps up and giggles again. [35]
����������� "We must leave now.� We have fulfilled the mission.� We have found the celestial secret of the star.� Are there any inns in town?" [36]
����������� "Actually, one.� We were planning to stay in it the night he was born.� Full and bulging.� I heard it's nice, but probably not as nice as what you're used to."
����������� They agree it will be fine.� Joseph tells them how to get there.
����������� As they leave, Joseph says, "God bless you."�
����������� God bless you?� No one has ever said God bless you to them before.� A personal God who actually cares about them?� It is strange.� It is nice.� They kind of like it.� God bless you....
����������� They arrive at the inn, manage to get the attention of the manager, and are granted entry.� Their guards bed down the camels and settle in to sleep next to them.� The four magi eat, then retire.�
����������� After the lights are out, they realize the star is now gone.�
         "Why do you think no one paid attention to the light but us?" Ashoka asks.
����������� "Have they quit learning?" Vish Tospa adds.
����������� "All along, these people have had their own documents to read to find him."  It's Duyakka.� "But it is as though the whole country is blind.� As though that's not the one they wanted."
�����������"But he was sent by God."� Nebo sums up what they all know.
����������� The four fall asleep.� They all four dream.� The same dream....
����������� Laughter.� Then a face appears out of blackness.� It is King Herod's face, King Herod's hideous laughter.�
����������� Soldiers come.� The laughter is replaced with crying.� Strange crying.� Screams.� Pitiful screams of babies.�
����������� Now a voice.� A divine voice.�
����������� "Do not return to Jerusalem!� Leave this country the opposite way from which you came!� Stay away from Jerusalem!"
����������� All four wake up.� Simultaneously. [37]
����������� "We must leave immediately!" Vish Tospa declares loudly.
����������� Back out in the street.� The night barely lingers before a new dawn.� A dawn of terror.� The foreigners make their way down narrow streets.� They've given orders for their guards to remain as quiet as possible.� They arrive once more at the gate of the city.�
����������� They do not try to explain.� They give several gold coins to the gate keeper, and quietly make their way back out through the eye of the needle, the door within the larger gate.
����������� However, instead of taking the northern route back out of the country, they turn south.� They must protect the child king.� They must not be discovered anywhere near him.� Back out on the road, they whip their camels into a run.� They must distance themselves from the child king before dawn.
����������� And so the foreigners leave the holy land.� Forever.
����������� Good riddance, magi, or whatever you unbelievers call yourselves.� You're not wanted here.� This is our religion.� Don't go changing everything.� You've got the wrong person.�
������������������������������������������������������������� LIFE APPLICATION
1.�������� The religious leaders knew exactly when and where the promised Savior would be born, for they told Herod, but withheld it from the people.� Have religious leaders ever withheld facts from you that you later found in the Bible?� How can you make sure you know even what they are withholding?
2.�������� Even though the wise men were astrologers and God did not give them powers to predict the future as they claimed (Isaiah 47:13), God used their belief in a wrong thing to lead them to God's Son. �How can you take a common thread from a wrong belief today to lead someone to God's Son?�
3.�������� These polytheists went to great lengths to prove whether or not the King of Kings was really born.� What great lengths will you go through to prove to yourself whether or not Jesus was the Son of God?� Will you do so to the extent that you could defend him to anyone who did not believe in him?
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