How Long Did Jesus Fast For

How Long Did Jesus’ Fast in the Wilderness Last?

During his earthly ministry, Jesus fasted only once, according to the Bible, and that was on the day of Pentecost. According to the Gospel of Luke, immediately following his baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days (Luke 4:2). “Forty days and forty nights,” according to the Gospel of Matthew, was the length of the fast (Matthew 4:2). When Jesus fasted, what exactly did he mean, and why did he choose to do so? In addition, what can we learn about spiritual disciplines and their role in our lives from Jesus’ fasting for 40 days and 40 nights?

When and How Long Did Jesus Fast?

Just after Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan river, we are informed that heaven opens and the Spirit of God descends upon him, and the voice of God can be heard proclaiming, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” This is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 3:16-17). Afterwards, Jesus promptly departs for the desert, where he will be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” when he was tested for forty days by the devil.

Many believe that the temptation helped Jesus prepare for his ministry.

Where Did Jesus Fast?

It is believed by scholars that Jesus fasted in the Judean wilderness, which is located close to the Jordan River. Temptation Mountain is an isolated and secluded location that overlooks the city but is steep and difficult to climb, according to legend, where the devil took him at one time. It is said to be the location where the devil kidnapped him at one point.

What Happens in This Story?

When Jesus fasts in each of the gospel stories, it signifies that he has chosen to limit or eliminate his food consumption. According to Luke’s story, “he didn’t eat anything for those days, and towards the end of them he was starving” (Luke 4:2). Jesus is tested at this period, as the devil tempts him in an attempt to take advantage of Jesus’s vulnerable position. To gain the grandeur of all the kingdoms of the earth, the devil tells Jesus to transform a stone into bread, to hurl himself from a cliff (to illustrate how the angels would save him), and to worship him (the devil).

The reality that “man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” is how Jesus responds to the devil’s challenge to change the stone into bread (Matt.

To the challenge of jumping from the cliff, Jesus responds with the words, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matt.

And in response to the temptation to prostrate oneself and worship the devil, Jesus says, “Away from me, Satan!

Because it says in the Bible, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.” (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:10). After that, the devil went; Jesus had passed the test and had refused to give in to temptation. Image courtesy of Unsplash/Kyle Cottrell.

Why Did Jesus Fast?

Jesus most likely fasted in order to prepare himself for service by becoming more intimate with God. One of the reasons people fast is to put their bodies into a condition of weakness, which allows them to concentrate on the essentials of life and hear God’s message more clearly without the distractions of so-called creature comforts, which may both soothe and divert us from our spiritual quest. Jesus was well aware that he had a difficult task ahead of him and that he needed to clear his brain before beginning to perform miracles.

He also saw that he needed to comprehend the far inferior intellect of humans, a sinful and occasionally rebellious people that sorely needed their savior, Messiah, the Christ, to be understood.

Did Jesus Drink Water or Eat Anything WhileFasting?

Fasting entails drastically decreasing one’s caloric intake, and in certain cases, completely eliminating it. We aren’t given any information on what is happening. Some academics believe Jesus ate nothing at all, which is consistent with the passage in Luke 4:2. Others believe he scavenged the bleak countryside for pieces of food that he had consumed very little of—virtually nothing. Because the fast simply mentions that he “ate nothing,” rather than that he “drank nothing,” the majority of scholars conclude that water was most likely consumed during this period.

How Did Jesus Fast for Forty Days?

Water and food are only needed for a few days, and individuals can do without water for a few weeks at the most, according to scientists. Forty days is a much longer period of time. According to the standard male lifespan, Jesus would not have survived forty days if he had only taken water and not eaten anything. He was not, however, a regular man; he was the Son of God who was empowered by the Holy Spirit and bestowed with miraculous powers, which enabled him to fast for as long was required.

Even if he had consumed some food throughout the fast, he would have been in a physically and psychologically debilitated position as a result of it.

It’s likely that he prayed and meditated in the presence of the Lord throughout this period.

What Is the Point of Fasting?

Some people fast in order to lose weight, however the majority of people fast for spiritual reasons instead. The majority of the time, individuals engage in a spiritual fast as a means of depriving themselves of physical pleasures, or even basic nutrition, in order to achieve a higher level of consciousness and knowledge of the Lord. Jesus would have fasted in order to come closer to God and to concentrate on his spiritual self, putting aside as many of his physical demands and desires as he could.

When we fast, we do it in order to deny ourselves and achieve more spiritual understanding. It is through fasting that we are able to lower our own strength and be strengthened by relying on the Lord. We also fast in order to show our support for those who are suffering.

How Can We Do a Fast Today?

If you are interested in attempting a spiritual fast, keep in mind that you are not Jesus, and that going into the wilderness alone for forty days is not a suggested choice for you. There are, however, several safe methods of fasting that you can use. In the Bible, fasting is mentioned dozens of times as a method of prayer, of grieving, or of drawing closer to God. First and foremost, contact with a medical professional before fasting to ensure that you do it in a healthy manner. Following that, experts recommend that you begin with short durations of time at a time and work your way up to larger periods.

  • It is more important to realize that the goal is to reach a state of bodily denial in order to better focus on your spiritual heart.
  • Allow yourself to be honest and vulnerable with your Creator throughout this period of time.
  • What we don’t know is whether Jesus fasted only once or whether this was a regular occurrence for him.
  • In contrast, when Jesus emerged triumphant from the desert and into the presence of his heavenly Father, he was ready and eager to accomplish anything God asked of him—including dying on the Cross for the sins of all mankind.
  • We can also learn about the necessity of spending time alone with God and about what we can learn when we walk away from bodily comfort and embrace difficulties for a period of time.
  • What Is the Purpose of Fasting, Exactly?
  • Her novel, The Memory Garden, was nominated for the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award, which she received for her work as a Christian novelist.
  • Jessica Brodie’s fiction may be found at jessicabrodie.com, as well as her religious blog.
  • You may also find her on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and others.

The surprising truth about fasting for Lent

The excesses of the carnival have come to an end, and the cleanup has been accomplished. So starts the traditional time of abstinence that occurs at the beginning of each year. Lent is a 40-day period leading up to Easter, the holiest day in the Christian calendar, during which people swear to abstain from everything from drinking and smoking to nail-biting and overeating.

Nonetheless, considering the historical significance of Jesus’ death from the very beginning of Christianity, it is rather unexpected that the practice of commemorating this momentous day has altered significantly over the past two thousand years – and in some unusual ways.

Lent in the New Testament

Today, Lent is associated with Jesus’ 40-day fast (Mark 1:13; Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13), which was instituted by the apostles. Although Mark informs us that Jesus was tempted by Satan, it is in Matthew and Luke that the specifics of the temptation are laid out in greater detail. In all three of the narratives, Jesus is said to have gone without food for 40 days. According to Luke 4:5–8, the devil leads Jesus up to a mountain in order to entice him with the promise of an earthly kingdom (Matthew 4:8–10).

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  • Christians, like devotees of many other religions, have practiced fasting for centuries.
  • The two had not previously been associated, which is unexpected given their proximity.

The holiness of hunger

Fasting, which involves abstaining from eating (and occasionally drinking) for a lengthy period of time, is a tradition that dates back thousands of years. Ancient Jews fasted on specific days throughout the year, according to the Jewish calendar. Fasting is assumed to be a typical element of Jewish religious practice in Mark 2:18–23 and Matthew 6:16–18, to name a few of passages from the Bible. Another set of Jewish literature from the Greco-Roman era depicts fasting as a viable alternative to sacrifice in certain situations.

  • Christians appear to have observed fast days on the same days as Jews throughout the early years of Christianity’s historical development.
  • In a letter written against Christians having anything in common with Jews, John Chrysostom (c.
  • John Chrysostom Dionisius is a saint who lived in the fourth century.
  • Among the many examples given in Exodus 34:28, Moses fasted before ascending the mountain to meet with God and receiving the Ten Commandments.
  • When Ezra fasts for seven days in preparation for receiving insights from God, he is described as “preparing to receive revelations from God.” An angel appears to him once he has completed his fasting time and reveals holy truths to him.
  • It should come as no surprise that later Christians started to link fasting with being near to God as a result of this.

One of the most well-known developments in fasting practice to arise after antiquity is that of the so-called ” saintly anorexics ” — women such as Angela of Foligno (1248–1309) and Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) who denied any sustenance save the Eucharist in order to maintain their sanctity.

The true origins of Lent

Fasting was mentioned in Christian writings as early as the second century, although different Christian organizations appear to have observed a variety of different sorts and lengths of fasts, and even within a church, there appeared to be divisions of opinion. Irenaeus of Lyons made a point of noting the variety: It is not just about the day that is under question, but also concerning the actual form of the fast that is being observed. Some believe they should fast one day, others two, and still others three or more; some, for that matter, believe that their day is comprised of 40 hours of daylight and darkness.

  1. It is thought to have been written in the first century AD.
  2. On the other hand, on Friday and Saturday, fast completely and do not eat or drink anything.
  3. It is interesting that this passage does not make the connection between a six-day fast and Easter and Jesus’s suffering, but it does not make the connection between a six-day fast and Jesus’s 40-day temptation as recounted in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
  4. Detail from the Temptation of Christ.
  5. As baptism grew more closely connected with Easter in the fourth century AD, it is conceivable that fasting during the three-week period leading up to baptism became more generalized to include those who were already Christians.
  6. The shifting customs linked with Lent may also be observed in Pope Francis’ recent declaration that women will be permitted to participate in the foot washing ritual, which commemorates Jesus’ washing of his disciples’ feet (John 13:1–20), as well as in other recent announcements.

In any case, it is apparent that many of the Christian feast days and fast days precede the religion, but that they have also been altered over time by the faith’s members as well. Furthermore, it serves as a reminder that nothing remains the same — including religious beliefs.

Why did Jesus fast?

QuestionAnswer Fasting is a practice that may be seen throughout the Bible. In the Bible, a fast is often defined as a voluntary, total abstention from eating for a certain period of time with the goal of devoting one’s time to pursuing God. Fasting allows us to deprive our flesh of what it craves, allowing us to concentrate more clearly on developing our souls. It doesn’t appear that Jesus fasted on a regular basis. He was really criticized for “eating and drinking” by his detractors (Matthew 11:19).

  1. This fast occurred soon after His baptism (Matthew 3:13), which marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
  2. During his period of fasting, Jesus was subjected to several temptations by the devil.
  3. While Jesus’ flesh was at its most vulnerable during those forty days, He was subjected to unrelenting temptation from Satan.
  4. Satan also gave Him a way out of the situation (Matthew 4:3).
  5. In his example, Jesus proved to us that fasting can be beneficial to our spiritual well-being when we use it to come closer to God.
  6. “Jesus returned to Galilee in the strength of the Spirit,” says Luke 4:14 at the conclusion of the tale of this trying time.
  7. The miracles, deliverance of the afflicted, and conquest of death would not be based on His humanity, but on His divinity.
  8. He served as a model for those of us who “do not live in the realm of the body, but live in the realm of the Spirit,” as Paul put it (Romans 8:9).
  9. Questions regarding Jesus Christ (return to top of page) What was the reason for Jesus’ fasting?
See also:  Map Of Where Jesus Was Born

Did Jesus drink water when He was fasting for 40 days?

Do you think Jesus drank water during His 40-day fasting period?

Bible Answer:

The events surrounding Christ’s temptation in the wilderness were documented by the gospel writers Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

According to the three gospels, Jesus fasted for 40 days before succumbing to the temptation of Satan shortly after. Each gospel has certain details that are similar to all of them as well as those that are unique to each.

Individual Gospel Accounts

Therefore, some have asserted that the three gospels are at odds, yet a smart trial lawyer would anticipate that this is the case. Everyone reported various information since everyone had a different point of view when he wrote what he did. The prosecution would accuse three witnesses with collusion if they all reported exactly the same thing in a criminal trial. In reality, when all of the witnesses provide the exact same information, the majority of trial lawyers are dubious of the situation.

The benefit of reading all three gospels is that we obtain a more complete picture, with Luke providing us with the exact chronological order of events (Luke 1:3).

Did Christ Drink Water?

There is no mention of Jesus drinking water or sleeping in any of the gospels, although they do mention that he fasted or went without food on several occasions. Despite the fact that there are no references to Christ drinking water, it indicates that Jesus did drink water at some point. Medical professionals believe that the average man or woman cannot survive without water for more than 10 days; yet, some people have managed to survive for up to 21 days without water. We can survive for far longer periods of time without nourishment.

Conclusion:

What is so great about Jesus’ temptation by Satan is that He was put to the test and did not fall prey to temptation and sin. Because we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but rather One who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet has come out unscathed. (NASB) Hebrews 4:15 is a verse that states that Jesus is without sin!

Suggested Links:

Jesus was tempted by Satan. Where can I discover the next time the devil put Jesus through his paces in the Bible? Is it possible that Jesus committed a sin?

How often did Jesus and his followers fast?

How many times did Jesus and the first generation of his disciples fast throughout his lifetime? Was it a one-time occurrence, or did it have a special focus on specific events or causes? Or was it something more routine and regular, something that was an intrinsic part of their religious practice? According to the majority of studies on the subject, fasting in the Old Testament was associated with specific festivals (such as the Day of Atonement), with particularly intense experiences (such as Moses’ 40-day experience in the presence of God on Mount Sinai), or with specific seasons or feelings.

  1. In any of these passages, there is no evidence to support the notion that fasting was a frequent feature of regular religious activity.
  2. Despite the fact that the Book of Tobit contains stories set in the eighth century BC, most academics assume it was written about the middle of the second century BC (most scholars date the book of Daniel to a similar period).
  3. A little bit of righteousness is preferable to a lot of wickedness in most cases.
  4. Due to the fact that almsgiving rescues from death and cleanses the soul of every sin.
  5. One thing that stands out about this passage, especially when compared to earlier Old Testament writings, is that fasting has now become a regular aspect of religious practice.
  6. As a result, when you contribute to the poor, do not make a big deal about it.
  7. When you fast, don’t wear a solemn expression like the hypocrites.
  8. And, once again, it is expected that fasting is a regular, habitual component of one’s spiritual life rather than something that is only done on exceptional occasions.
  9. This appears to be the question on the lips of Jesus’ detractors in Luke 5.33, who state: ‘John’s disciples fast and pray frequently, as do the disciples of the Pharisees, but your disciples continue to eat and drink.’ Matthew looks to be trapped in the middle of Mark and Luke’s stories.
  10. In fact, Luke appears to take a particular interest in this recurring behavior pattern.

TheDidache, an early Christian teaching treatise that is probably dated to the late first century but was lost until it was rediscovered in the nineteenth century, states the following: Chapter 8: But do not associate your fasts with those of the hypocrites, who fast on the second and fifth days of the week, respectively.

  1. Do not pray in the manner of hypocrites, but rather in the manner prescribed by the Lord in his Gospel, as follows: … After that, there is a version of the Lord’s prayer that is extremely similar to the one found in Matthew’s Gospel (also known as ‘his Gospel’).
  2. They are Jews.
  3. Acts 13.2, which is another of Luke’s allusions to this practice, indicates that it is a common practice among the community of believers.
  4. One other piece of evidence supporting this approach comes from a somewhat unexpected source.
  5. Instead, fasting patterns revert to those found in the Old Testament, which is a good thing.
  6. Just as the early Jewish followers of Jesus began to establish themselves in opposition to mainstream Judaism, Rabbinical Judaism soon followed suit and began to define itself in opposition to the burgeoning movement for Jesus.
  7. Finally, it’s worth pondering on what this habit of fasting two days a week meant as a devotional practice in terms of its significance.
  8. The majority of people would have found no reason to fast, although select ascetic groups did practice fasting, but only as a symbol of their separation from the world.

Days of ‘feast’ celebrated a world created by God and all that was good in it; days of ‘fast’, on the other hand, symbolized repentance, mourning, and longing for deliverance—exactly the sort of practice you might adopt if you were looking forward to the coming of a Messiah and the beginning of the age to come.

  • In fact, it’s exactly what you’d do if you were in the habit of praying ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven’ every morning!
  • (In a fantastic bit of synchronicity, Michael Mosley advises intermittent fasting on Mondays and Thursdays for the sake of his health!
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Make the most generous interpretation of other people’s points of view and endeavor to learn from their experiences and viewpoints. Don’t think of discussion as a battle to be won; instead, focus on the issue at hand rather than the individual involved.

How did Jesus fast for 40 days?

Hello, Gramps. Thank you for reading this and taking the time to do so. And please accept my thanks in advance for the time you will devote to answering my query if you do decide to do so. I’ve been thinking about Jesus and his forty-day fasting experience. This is something I should have figured out by now. However, I’m curious as to whether the forty days listed in the Bible are real or allegorical in nature. It is possible that Jesus did not experience death because he was the true son of Heavenly Father, but if this is the case, why was he able to do so and avoid death?

  1. Or does it really make a difference how many days there are in a month how long it takes?
  2. It wouldn’t surprise me if the forty days of fasting that the Bible claims Jesus underwent were accurate.
  3. I couldn’t find a heading that said “fasting,” so I went ahead and inquired.
  4. Kim_ Dear Kim, I am writing to express my gratitude for the time you have taken to read this letter.
  5. If we take the passage at its value and declare that he spent forty days without food or drink, then our present understanding of human limits forces us to infer that he had assistance from a supernatural source.
  6. If this is actually accurate, it simply serves to strengthen Jesus’ claim to be the only begotten Son of God.
  7. According to some experts, the number 40 was less of a precise number and more of a general term for any significant figure rather than a specific number.
  8. There is also the notion that fasting may signify various things to different people, which is supported by research.
  9. This opens the door to the possibility that he did consume food and drink, although the amount would have been negligible.
  10. It has absolutely no effect on the core concept that the scriptures are attempting to convey.
  11. I believe that is a beautiful illustration of what we should be aiming for in our lives.
See also:  How Jesus Really Looked

Extreme fasting: How trying to do what Jesus did could literally kill you

Alfred Ndlovu died after seeking to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by fasting in the desert. Alfred Ndlovu, a South African preacher, has starved to death as a result of malnutrition. It’s a heartbreaking narrative, but it’s not quite what it appears to be. The reason for this is that Ndlovu died, 44, not because he was unable to obtain adequate food but because he thought in his heart that he was following in the footsteps of Jesus. Ndlovu chose to fast for 40 days in the same way that Jesus did — but this time without drinking any water.

  1. This is not the first time someone has attempted anything like this.
  2. Others have attempted to fast for lengthy periods of time, but have failed, suffering either permanent health consequences or death as a result.
  3. Many Christians observe a fast.
  4. The conscious denial of our physiological cravings also serves as a statement about our willingness to deny ourselves in other aspects of life as well, such as immoral desires, laziness, and self-indulgence, to name a few.
  5. Fasting is especially mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
  6. Human people are capable of entirely abstaining from eating for a period of 40 days, and others believe they can go much longer.
  7. Body’s metabolism slows, and organs begin to shut down as they are strained to maintain the heart and brain operating at peak performance levels.

Someone who had gone through that experience, on the other hand, would have been close to death at the end of it and would have needed weeks to recover.

Consequently, some academics argue that the tale of Jesus’ fast in the desert has to be re-written in a new way.

Even though he may have refrained from eating, some types of fast under the Judaism of that time allowed only abstention from specific types of food, therefore it was not a complete fast.

Furthermore, the span of 40 days is associated with a number of significant events in the Bible.

Others believe it is a symbolic representation of a vast period of time rather than a numerical value that should be taken literally by the reader.

Although Jesus went out to spend time with God, the story’s thesis is that he did so in order to be away from the distractions of everyday life.

His time in the bush helped him prepare for his future as a public servant.

Fasting, on the other hand, can also be a source of spiritual vanity or vainglory.

The worst-case scenario is that it is the equivalent of setting a new personal best in an athletic event. But, ultimately, what matters is God and whether or not it aids us in our walk with him. Mark Woods may be followed on Twitter at @RevMarkWoods.

Why Did Jesus Fast for So Long?

When Jesus fasted, according to Glory Dy, “Jesus’ flesh was at its most vulnerable.” After you consider how grueling forty days may be, it’s no surprise that angels came to Jesus’ aid when he was finished (Matthew 4:11). What was the reason for his having to abstain from food for such a lengthy period of time?

A Forty Day Fast

Amanda Barrell detailed what occurs to a body when it is starved of nourishment for an extended period of time. “Food serves as the body’s fuel for its important operations, many of which are adversely affected by famine.” After a short length of time, the body will begin to remove nutrients from any tissue, including the muscles of the heart, which are among them. We are reminded that Jesus was a human being in the same way that we are. This is a crucial aspect to consider for people who are studying the Bible for consistency.

  • His physical well-being was in jeopardy.
  • It’s possible that his stomach was swollen and hurting.
  • He could have called on the angels to provide him with food, but it would have meant succumbing to temptation as God.
  • Satan tempted Jesus when he was at his most vulnerable, but Jesus refused to transform stones into bread (Matthew 4:3), did not challenge God (Matthew 4:5), and did not accept Satan’s false gift of authority over everything he could see (Matthew 4:6).
  • 9).
  • When one considers how severe his suffering would be, forty days seems like an appropriate length of time to wait.
  • A servant of the Lord entirely surrenders himself to God’s will.
  • Only God can provide us with complete nourishment.
  • It would have sufficed to fast for a few days, but a 40-day fast has a greater influence on our comprehension of Deuteronomy 8:3, which states, “Man does not live by food alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

Why Did Jesus Fast?

Fasting instructions are found in Matthew 6:16-18, which is the gospel according to Matthew. Christians are required to fast, even though it is not a prerequisite for salvation in the Christian faith. During times of extreme grief or confusion, it is a spiritual practice that is used in order to seek God’s will. In the eyes of the Lord, fasting is a display of humility, as well as a manner of expressing agreement with Jesus’ teaching that one cannot live on bread alone. We fast when we are in desperate need of insight, direction, and peace from the Lord.

Christ was about to start on his mission, which would culminate in his suffering and execution at the hands of the authorities.

“Be on the lookout and hope that you will not fall prey to temptation.

Christ’s flesh was weakened as a result of his fast, but he still had other temptations ahead of him that were even more severe, including the temptation to forego going to the cross altogether.

It was necessary for him to submit his body — that is, his human form — to the will of his Father and to be strengthened by the Lord in order to finish his mission.

The Significance of 40 Days

Both Jesus and the Old Testament are always pointing back to one another, just as Jesus is constantly pointing to the Old Testament. The Bible frequently repeats themes and pictures, sometimes in odd numbers. The deluge lasted for a total of forty consecutive days. Following the Exodus from Egypt, Moses traveled to the mountain to be with God, where he “was on the mountain forty days and forty nights” (Exodus 34:20). (Exodus 24:18). When Moses arrived on the scene, he saw that Israel had fashioned a golden calf in order to worship it.

  1. Moses’ second fast was an act of supplication on behalf of Israel.
  2. Was it necessary for Jesus to intervene on their behalf?
  3. According to Mark 4, Jesus calmed a storm for his fearful followers and then inquired, “Why are you so afraid?” “Do you still have no faith?” (See v.
  4. The Lord said, ‘O faithless and twisted generation, how long do I have to be here with you?’ “How much longer am I going to put up with you?” Why didn’t Jesus return to the desert to pray and fast for these guys like he had done before?
  5. In order to save their lives, he would lay down his life.
  6. A 40-day fast was indeed a tool for Jesus to humble himself and weaken himself in prayer before God, but the flogging and crucifixion he underwent were adequate atonement for all crimes on the part of all men and women throughout all of time.

Should Christians Fast for 40 Days and Nights?

A 40-day fast has the potential to be harmful to a person. It’s also unlikely that you’ll draw notice, which goes against Christ’s teaching: “When you fast, do not seem gloomy like the hypocrites, because they disfigure their features in so that their fasting may be observed by others” (Matthew 6:16). It is impossible to fast for such a long period of time without seeming thin, exhausted, and unwell. This might also lead to a type of fasting that is only for show. The examples of Moses and Jesus are unusual, as were the circumstances in which they lived and died.

See also:  What Jesus Really Looked Like

“My Father, if it is possible, please take this cup away from me; nonetheless, not according to my desire, but according to yours,” Jesus implored (Matthew 26:39).

As a result, if one engages in any form of self-denial, whether it’s fasting from all meals for many days or giving up chocolate for Lent, one must constantly consider the motivation behind it.

Precaution is suggested, however, because no one is a “better” Christian, nor is anybody more beloved by the Lord, merely because he or she has participated in an extremely long and perilous time of fasting, which God did not order in the first place.

What Does This Mean?

Jesus sought the will of his Father. He went to God with his whole self immediately after he was baptized. He became physically weak and was filled by God’s Word, which was also his strength when he faced Satan. He endured a test when his body was weak, and all along he demonstrated for Christians what it means that God is strong in our weakness. Christ’s need was great. The duration of his fast in the wilderness reflects the enormous importance of his mission: to save souls. For further reading:If Jesus Could Not Sin What Was the Point of Satan Tempting Him?

Why Did Jesus Fast?

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Why Did Jesus Fast?

Fasting is a popular practice that may be traced back to the biblical text. Eating fasting is the voluntary and entire abstention from food for a specified period of time or days, with the goal of devoting oneself to God via prayer and seeking His will. In Matthew 4:1–11, we may read about Jesus’ fasting on a significant occasion. According to this verse, Jesus fasted for a number of different reasons. This essay will go into great depth about each of these four primary causes in further detail.

1. Jesus’ Flesh Was at its Weakest

One of the primary reasons for this is that Jesus’ flesh was at its most vulnerable during the period of fasting. This implies that Jesus was definitely one of us throughout this time period – a human being. Through the act of fasting, he was able to sense the frailty of flesh for the first time. What does it mean to be made of the weakest of flesh? It implies that it is sensitive to temptations, which explains why Satan was able to entice him at this period. We, as humans, are constantly confronted with the fragility of the body, just because we are human.

Jesus was both entirely God and totally man at the same time.

However, it was during this period of fasting that He was able to feel the frailty of the body and therefore become one of us, as well.

This is emphasized in Romans 8:9, when we read, Although you may be living in the body right now, you are in fact living in the realm of the Spirit, assuming that the Holy Ghost is present in your life.

2. He Had Conquered Temptation

Jesus’ fasting also serves as an illustration of how He overcame temptation throughout His life. According to the Bible, Satan tried to seduce Him several times. First, Satan tempted Jesus by offering him the opportunity to change stones into loaves of food to satisfy His hunger. Second, Satan enticed Jesus to hurl Himself on the ground in order for the angels to come to His aid, therefore demonstrating that He was actually the Son of God. Finally, Satan tempted Jesus by saying that if He worshipped Satan, all of the world’s splendor would be handed to Him.

First and foremost, He stated that man cannot exist just on bread.

At the end, He told Satan, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him exclusively” (Matthew 4:10).

This offers us reason to be optimistic about our own temptations. When we are confronted with temptation, we should recall Jesus and beg for His assistance in warding off Satan. “I will overcome temptation in the name of Jesus Christ.”

3. True Nourishment Comes from God

Moreover, Jesus’ fasting serves as a testimony of His love and devotion to His Father. This is seen by the fact that He continuously refers to God when rebuking Satan’s seduction. During one of His rebuttals, He refers to Deuteronomy 8:3, which states: “He humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, in order to teach you that man does not live solely on bread but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” From Jesus’ response to the circumstance, we may learn a great deal.

According to Scripture, “a lot of time had passed, and sailing had already become perilous due to the fact that it was after the Day of Atonement at this point.” As a result, Paul cautioned them” (Acts 27:9), and “the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement.” “Convene a sacred assembly, abstain from food, and bring a food sacrifice to the Lord” (Leviticus 23:27).

4. Fasting Is a Spiritual Tool

Finally, Jesus fasted in order to prepare Himself for the ultimate spiritual fight against Satan, which Satan unquestionably lost. This is due to the fact that fasting is a spiritual instrument that prepares us spiritually and pulls us closer to God’s might. It is a means of acknowledging that our talents are not our own, but rather the result of God. As a result, this is exactly what Jesus did while fasting. It consists in His acknowledging His Father’s orders and getting strength from His Father in return (Isaiah 58:6-14).

Why Does This Matter?

We have explored four key causes for Jesus’ fasting, which are as follows: Even though Jesus’ flesh was at its weakest, He overcame temptation, displayed his faith, and, eventually, used fasting as a spiritual weapon to draw strength from His heavenly Father in order to save mankind. Fasting was undoubtedly a part of our Almighty’s overall plan to rescue us via Jesus Christ, His only born Son, and it was part of that plan. It was a part of His preparation, both spiritually and physically, for this moment.

Photograph courtesy of iStock/Getty Images Plus/1971yes.com Glory Dy has been working as a content developer for more than ten years now.

In what month did Jesus fast according to Matthew?

No specific time or season is mentioned in the Bible as to when Jesus was baptized, and there is no way to know for certain when he was baptized. Any response is based on speculation. Although the incident is significant, it is plausible to anticipate that it will have some historical importance or relevance on the day in question. Other significant events in the Gospel took place on a certain day:

  • The crucifixion took place during the Jewish holidays of Passover and Unleavened Bread. In accordance with Jewish tradition, the resurrection happened on the day of First Fruits. Affirming that the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place on the Feast of Weeks

Given the fact that other significant events take place on specific dates, it is fair to assume that the baptism and 40-day fasting will take place on the same day. There is no explicit reference to the season, but there are two indications that make certain dates less feasible than they otherwise are. The first can be found in the other people who came to see John: However, when he noticed the Pharisees and Sadducees approaching. (See Matthew 3:7 for further information.) 1The Pharisees were individuals who were devoted to following the Law of Moses.

(See Deuteronomy 16:16 for further information).

This is doubtful.

The second textual hint is quite close to the first: Then Jesus traveled from Galilee to John’s baptismal site to be baptized by the latter.

There is no reason to impose a strict requirement that Jesus adhere to the Law regarding his attendance at the Feasts in Jerusalem; however, it is unlikely that the initiation of His public ministry would begin with an event that (potentially) conflicted with the Law; as a result, the emphasis is placed on a starting point in Galilee.

The following 40-day period can be used to make a link to the calendar: On the seventeenth day of the second month of Noah’s life, in the six hundredth year of his life, in the second month of the second month, all of the springs of the vast deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven opened.

(Genesis 7:11-12; Revelation 22:18) Additionally, there are other parallels between this event and Jesus’ baptism, aside from the 40-day period that follows: The baptism has elements such as water, the opening of the heavens above, and something from the heavens descending down to the earth: Jesus arose from the water very soon after being baptized, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending on Him like a dove and settling upon Him.

(Matthew 3:16; Mark 10:45) In both cases, there was an initial occurrence that was followed by a 40-day waiting period.

The baptism taking place on the seventeenth day of the second month of the year establishes a link between it and Noah and the Flood.

As a result, by scheduling the baptism on the seventeenth day of the second month, the baptism is tied to the yearly calendar when the second month Passover is taken into consideration.

(See Matthew 27:59 for further information.) Those who had laid Jesus to rest were able to celebrate the Passover in the second month.

Thus, Jesus was able to observe the Passover and Unleavened Bread in Jerusalem with His family, as had been their habit during His childhood (Luke 2:41).

There is some opposition to this since the Feast of Weeks would happen during the 40 days that Jesus was in the desert, during which time He would not be obligated to be in attendance in Jerusalem as required by the Law of Moses.

Another alternative is that Jesus truly traveled to Mount Sinai and observed the Feast of Weeks at the site where Moses received the Law and smashed the first set of tablets, as some have suggested.

Everything in the Bible is taken from the New King James Version.

For example, if Joseph died and was buried, his interment would render the home unfit for human consumption. In that view, Jesus’ public ministry began the same year that his earthly father passed away.

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