The Wise Man Returns

by Kenny Kemp

Many years after the sign of the star, Melchior, one of the three wise men, returns to Judea to receive counsel from the King of the Jews. Unexpectedly finding him in the countryside teaching rather than ruling on the throne, Melchior searches for answers and finds healing in the process. A historical fiction that address contemporary concerns, this book is a balm for the wounded soul.

Genres: Historical Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

I am a restless soul who has always had the desire to hear and tell a good story. I majored in film production in college, got sidetracked by law school and a few years practicing law, returned to graduate film school, worked in Hollywood for several years as a screenwriter and filmmaker, stumbled into writing novels, and got unbelievably lucky when my memoir Dad Was a Carpenter won the international self-published book award in 1999, resulting in a three-book deal with publishing giant HarperCollins. I continue to self-publish because I love the hands-on nature of it. I speak to writers' groups and book clubs as I travel around the U.S. promoting my books. When I'm not writing, I love to fly my plane, listen to jazz, compose schmaltzy love songs, and dissect films.

Reviews

[Christine Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a unique and entertaining book. While a work of fiction, I really felt that I was learning more about the time in which Jesus Christ lived. The political and religious setting (the character Melchior is essentially a priest in the temple of a very popular God in the Roman ruled city of Alexandria, Egypt) was very interesting and eye-opening. The author's theories are quite intriguing, and if you will read the author notes and other information that follow the story, you will learn more about his thoughts and what is actually drawn from fact.

The story unfolds as a life history, written by Melchior himself. He unravels his story a little at a time, beginning with how he gained a position of great power in the city of Alexandria. This opening scene is very powerful, and caught my attention right away. He goes on to tell how he was drawn to Jerusalem to find the new born King of the Jews, and his meeting with two other "wise men" from other areas of the world.

But Melchior's story does not end after finding Christ in a manger, and presenting him with the gift of Myrrh. It is so much more. I don't want to ruin it for you, so I won't tell any more. I will say, go grab a copy of this fabulous book!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melkorios of Alexandria was an important prefect at the temple of Serapis. He observed the stars and saw signs that an important king was to be born – someone very special indeed. He decided to travel to Judea to see the newborn for himself. As he tries to track down the exact location of the child's home, Melkior meets up with Balthazar and Caspar, leaders from other lands who also seek the new king. The three men purchase special gifts in the marketplace for him, and eventually find little Yeshua, with Miriam his mother and Josef, his father.

For my full review, visit http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.act...

[Melliemom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different path to a spiritual path. I little confusing at times trying to figure what was a dream and what was real, but it was an interesting approach to reading about the life of others and of Jesus.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a surprise to me; the main character and the setting were so vividly rendered that I still find myself thinking about them several weeks after finishing the book. I didn't like the ending very much but the first two-thirds of the book were just wonderful.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique read for Christmas, as it doesn’t just focus on the Christmas season or the event of Christ’s birth alone. It transcends years and speaks much of the last years of Christ’s life, showing how his whole life can bring us closer to Him and His teachings.

[Jeni | StoryTimeReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.”

🐫 👑 What if I told you the story of the Three Wise Men didn’t end at the manger?

This book has filled me with wonder & awe through the years, & I often recommend it to everyone who loves faith-based holiday fiction.

𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨, Kenny Kemp takes us on a journey so vivid, you can almost feel the sands of the desert beneath your feet & the weight of the questions in your heart. I LOVED this book for the fascinating way it filled in the mysterious “missing years” of Jesus’s life in Egypt, where His family sought refuge after fleeing King Herod’s deadly decree. The idea that Jesus grew up learning & experiencing things in Egypt—so close to but so far from His destiny—is as thought-provoking as it is beautiful.

💡 𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: Meet Melchior, one of the famed Wise Men who knelt before the Holy Child with his gift of myrrh. But what happens 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 that star-lit night in Bethlehem? Decades later, Melchior is no longer the star-chasing scholar we knew. Life has weathered him, loss has marked him, & his faith is hanging by a thread. When rumors of Jesus—no longer a child, but a man performing miracles—reach him, Melchior sets out on one last pilgrimage to find answers.

What he discovers is not the kingly throne he envisioned but a Messiah changing hearts instead of governments. Along the way, Melchior’s own life is transformed as he meets people touched by Jesus’s love & teachings. This is not just a story about finding Christ but about being found by Him.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱:
🏺📜 The historical depth: Kemp immerses readers in Alexandria’s grandeur, Judea’s tension, & the intricate politics of the time.
💔 The emotional resonance: Melchior’s spiritual journey feels incredibly real—his doubts, his longing, his transformation.
🤔 The “what if” factor: This novel bridges the gap between the manger & the ministry, exploring what might have shaped Jesus during His younger years in Egypt, & beyond.

💭 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬: This book isn’t just a story; it’s a soulful exploration of what happens when our expectations of God don’t match His plans. I was especially drawn to the way it humanized both Melchior & Jesus. The Savior we glimpse here is both divine & deeply relatable—a child in exile, a man misunderstood, yet a Redeemer of infinite compassion.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Your heart might just be left a little tender after this one. And don’t be surprised if you start imagining what those “hidden years” of Jesus’s life were like.

❓If you could ask one question of the Wise Men, what would it be? Drop your thoughts below!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book from a Goodreads contest. I think it was a three and half so round up it gets a four from me.

I received this right after Christmas and decided to wait to read it when it was time to get into the Christmas mood. However I should have read it at Easter for the last part of the book is set at the time of the crucifixion.

I found the descriptions of Alexandria very interesting. The politics of the time were also interesting. I often feel that stories of the past do not really convey the harsh realities of life in the times they are trying to portray and while this story did not focus on that, those realities where there.

But the meat of the story is the spiritual journey of one of the wise men. Meklorios goes from belief in many gods and a priest in the temple of an Egyptian god to a believer in none but with a heart that still seeks. The words and works of Jesus are woven in but do not overpower the search Meklorios is on. Meklorios learns just enough to keep him wondering what has become of the child he once knew.

I enjoyed the different angle this story gave to the life and times of Jesus.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing journey this book took me on! Kenny Kemp is brilliant at balancing intelligent thinking and philosophy with the inner turmoil of soul-searching at the same time without insulting the reader by over-thinking or too much emotion. And the description of scenery is not overly done or boring, yet the pictures painted in my mind were as if I was watching an epic movie with sweeping motions and grand scenes. Also, the author does not get caught up in too much dialogue and moves the story along to keep the reader interested and wanting to read often. I was so attached the wise man Melchior and so many other characters because this author knew how to tap into character immediately without an excess of description. Love it! This author really strikes an amazing balance and is gifted and well-educated in bringing to life a simply remarkable book that I've added to my list of all-time favorites.

[Roxanne Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of beautiful, factual detail that paints a picture of the ancient world as you've never seen it. The fictional story is told from the perspective of a non-believer who seeks the newborn King, finds him, loses him, then finds him again, and throughout his journey finds himself and discovers his faith. This book is not a one-night-stand. Kenny paints such a detailed picture that I read it slowly so I could sort through it all and visualize it in my puny brain. This story is a great companion piece to Kemp's "City on a Hill" and "The Welcoming Door" as some of the characters and stories intertwine.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Melchoir, one of the Magi, who struggles to believe in Christ, even after witnessing the miracle of his birth, years of friendship with Jesus, and the stories of many trustworthy beings who changed their lives because of Him. The story was told from a historical perspective, rather than biblical. It was great to hear the story told based from events in history and to understand why the tetrarchs, prefects, and other "leaders" behaved as they did. It also helped clear up my confusion about the relationships between Romans, Jews, and Greeks and their interactions.

Well researched and well-written. I enjoyed this a lot.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neat!

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

More award-winning fiction by Kenny Kemp:

2011 National Best Books Awards - Finalist, Religious Fiction

2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards - Winner, Religious Fiction

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting take on the life of Jesus Christ and how others may have viewed Him. I really liked the characters and the history.