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).
This fast occurred soon after His baptism (Matthew 3:13), which marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
During his period of fasting, Jesus was subjected to several temptations by the devil.
While Jesus’ flesh was at its most vulnerable during those forty days, He was subjected to unrelenting temptation from Satan.
- Satan also gave Him a way out of the situation (Matthew 4:3).
- 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.
- “Jesus returned to Galilee in the strength of the Spirit,” says Luke 4:14 at the conclusion of the tale of this trying time.
- The miracles, deliverance of the afflicted, and conquest of death would not be based on His humanity, but on His divinity.
- 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).
- Questions regarding Jesus Christ (return to top of page) What was the reason for Jesus’ fasting?
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.
- “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.
How Long Did Jesus’ Fast in the Wilderness Last?
During his earthly ministry, Jesus fasted just once, according to the Bible, and that was on the day of Pentecost. According to the Gospel of Luke, shortly following his baptism, Jesus was taken by the Spirit into the desert, 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 function 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!
- After that, the devil went; Jesus had passed the test and had refused to give in to temptation.
Why Did Jesus Fast?
When Jesus fasts in both of the gospel stories, it signifies that he has decided to limit or eliminate his food consumption. He didn’t eat anything over those days, according to Luke’s report, and he was famished at the conclusion of them (Luke 4:2). As a result of Jesus’s weakened state, the devil tempts him, hoping to take advantage of his 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) as a sacrifice.
- Against the devil’s challenge to change the stone into bread, Jesus responds by stating that “man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (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.
- Jesus responds, “Away from me, Satan!” in response to the demand to kneel down and worship the devil.
- Picture by Kyle Cottrell on Unsplash.com
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, but the majority of people fast for spiritual reasons instead. The majority of the time, people engage in a spiritual fast as a means of depriving themselves of physical pleasures, or even basic sustenance, in order to achieve a higher level of consciousness and knowledge of the Lord. Jesus would have fasted in order to draw closer to God and to concentrate on his spiritual self, putting aside as many of his physical needs and desires as he could. Today, we frequently observe a spiritual fast for the same reasons.
It is through fasting that we are able to decrease our own strength and be strengthened by relying on the Lord.
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.
She also does a weeklyYouTubedevotional on her channel. You may also find her on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and others. She’s also written a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices for When You’re Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, which you can get here.
Why Did Jesus Fast for Forty Days and Forty Nights? And Should We?
This is the second in a series of articles about fasting and abstinence. Part 1 may be found here. The fast of Jesus, which lasted forty days and forty nights, is the most dramatic in the Bible. The event is reported by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. “Jesus was brought up by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil,” according to the Gospel of Matthew. (See Matthew 4:1) Huh? What would be the purpose of the Holy Spirit wanting Jesus to be tempted? The gospel authors are cautious with the specifics of their stories.
Preparing for Battle
This isn’t a one-time event, either. It occurs immediately following Jesus’ baptism by John and immediately before His public career, which would culminate in His horrific death. His stay in the desert, it appears, served as a kind of physical and spiritual boot camp, preparing Him for the onslaught that lay ahead of Him. The Greek word for “tempt” in the text refers to anything like “test” or “attempt,” depending on the context. He was going to have to deal with Satan and his numerous minions in this battle.
- And what did Jesus do in response?
- Do you want to lift weights?
- Do you want to do high-intensity interval training?
- No, not at all.
- After all, why not three hundred and ninety or forty-one?
- When Noah lived on the ark, it poured for forty days and forty nights straight.
- And the Hebrews, who were God’s chosen people, were forced to live in the desert for forty years after they were expelled from Egypt.
- Before beginning a new covenant with Noah, God cleared the earth of sin and prepared the way for him.
- Because they were in the desert, they had to rely on the water that came from rocks and God’s supernatural food from heaven, which was known as manna, as well as the odd quail to survive.
- The birth of a new Israel, according to Marcellino D’Ambrosio, was a prologue to “the birth of a new Israel emancipated from sin, reconciled to God, and controlled by the Law of the Spirit rather than a law etched in stone.” The first Adam did not pass the exam.
Don’t Explain It Away
It would be tempting to find an explanation for the entire incident. “Yeah,” one would think. “Well, sure.” “Jesus is the Son of God,” says the author. He has the ability to multiply fish and loaves of bread. Even though I’m a mere mortal, I’m not sure I could fast for forty days any longer than I could resurrect a man who had been dead in the tomb for four days. “Can you tell me what this has to do with me?” At least, that’s what I had a faint notion of for quite some time. It hadn’t occurred to me that what Jesus accomplished may serve as a paradigm for us as well in certain respects.
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- (See also Luke 4:2) The basic significance of a fast can be summarized as follows: Fasting is defined as not eating for a period of time.
- It is important to note that Satan appealed to Jesus’ hunger rather than His thirst.
- However, believe it or not, a healthy individual may fast without food for up to forty days without ill effects.
- A pound of fat has around 3,500 calories.
(This is the real kicker.) I’ll explain how to accomplish this without resorting to torture in subsequent episodes.) The angels do arrive to minister to Jesus, but only after he has endured a long fast and been put through three tests by Satan.
What’s This Got to Do With Me?
This does not imply that you should embark on a forty-day fast consisting just of water, although you might if you put in the necessary preparation and planning. If fasting is not a key part of our lives, we will lose out on some of what God has in mind for us. Then why did Jesus not instruct us to fast if this is the case? Because He assumed that His disciples would do as He instructed them to do. In His Sermon on the Mount, which is included in the very next chapter of Matthew, Jesus addresses a large throng of people.
You should aim to be as unobtrusive as possible while giving charity, for example, rather than attempting to get recognition for it.
(Matthew 5:16; Mark 10:16) You see what I mean?
He concentrated on teaching how to perform all three in the most effective way.
One of the Best Reasons to Fast
The example of Jesus helps to put shorter fasts into perspective. It also provides us with one of the most compelling reasons for fasting: to prepare for spiritual combat. If it was good enough for Jesus, then it should be good enough for us as well. To emphasize this point, Lent is a forty-day period of preparation, fasting, and prayer for Christians worldwide, observed by hundreds of millions of people each year. According to Pope Benedict XVI, the situation is as follows: For many, Lent is a protracted “retreat” in which they may re-enter themselves and hear the voice of God, allowing them to overcome the temptations of the Evil One and discover the reality of their own being.
- We will be able to celebrate Easter in its true spirit in this manner, and we will be prepared to reaffirm our baptismal commitments.
- Christians, on the other hand, used to do a great deal more than that.
- * When Moses was with God on Mount Sinai, he did not consume any food or drink.
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Why did Jesus fast?
Fasting is the practice of depriving one’s body of its earthly wants in order to devote one’s life to the pursuit of the Lord. There are several references to it throughout Scripture, and it is often observed by full abstention from eating for a specified duration of time. It is hoped that fasting would result in a stronger spirit and a more intense concentration on God rather than on material problems. Because of the often repeated tale of Jesus’ forty-day fast in the desert, many people assume that Jesus fasted more frequently than He actually did.
- When Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:13—4:2), he immediately began his forty-day fast, which would last until the end of His three-year mission, which would alter the world.
- According to Matthew 4:1–2, the Holy Spirit compelled Jesus to fast and then took Him into the desert for forty days and forty nights.
- Due to the lack of food, Jesus’ physical body was at its most vulnerable, and it was at this moment that Satan continuously tempted Him.
- Satan also attacks Jesus’ identity as the Son of God in Matthew 4:1–10.
- In this extraordinary instance, Jesus overcame sin by relying on the power of God’s Word, rather than His own strength, to accomplish His goal.
- According to Luke 4:14, Jesus was strengthened by God and returned in the power of the Spirit, confirming what had been said previously.
- It was critical that He lived every moment under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21–22), since it demonstrated that He had gained control over His human nature.
- No one can claim to be a member of Christ unless they have the Spirit of Christ in their lives.
- If Jesus is God, how could He pray to Him if He is not God?
Was Jesus addressing himself in prayer? What was the reason for Jesus’ frequent use of parables? What were the most significant events in Jesus’ life? What was it like to be Jesus in historical times? Who was Jesus as a human being? Return to the page: The Truth About Jesus Christ.
Why Did Jesus Fast?
Throughout the gospels, Jesus is described as fasting for 40 days before engaging in a fierce encounter with Satan (Matthew 4:1-11;Luke 4:1-13). The objective of Jesus’ fasting, according to His own words, was to come near to God in order to receive assistance. Satan’s suggestion of turning stones into bread prompted Jesus to reference Deuteronomy 8:3, which states, “Man shall not live by food alone, but by every word that emanates from God’s mouth.” With His fasting and abstinence from physical food and drink, Jesus expressed His belief in the reality that genuine nutrition can only be obtained from the Creator.
- According to Acts 27:9, the disciples continued to acknowledge and observe the Day of Atonement, which was an annual holy day that was also a fast day, for the rest of their lives (Leviticus 23:27).
- We, at the United Church of God, adhere to the biblical practice of fasting on the Day of Atonement each year, as God has directed (for more information, see our free resourceGod’s Holy Day Plan).
- While Jesus affirmed that His followers were not fasting while He was among them, he also stated that they would fast following His death, according to the Bible (Luke 5:33-35).
- In light of the concept that fasting brings a person closer to God in need of assistance, as well as the significant physical stressors that Jesus endured on a daily basis, it would not be unexpected if Jesus fasted on a frequent basis, despite the fact that this is not documented.
- In the same way that Jesus fasted in order to prepare for and ultimately win His spiritual war with Satan, we may likewise get closer to God, realize that victory comes through His strength rather than our own, and learn how to more effectively combat sin in our lives.
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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?
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. So, what exactly happened?
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.
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.
- It is thought to have been written in the first century AD.
- On the other hand, on Friday and Saturday, fast completely and do not eat or drink anything.
- 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.
- Detail from the Temptation of Christ.
- 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.
- 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.
Jesus’ purpose when he fasted for 40 days
– Chapter 2 – John the Baptist and Jesus begin their ministry – Part 6 of The Life of Jesus Christ Previous article |Life of Jesus Christ Index|*Word List|Next article |Life of Jesus Christ Index Barrie Wetherill’s online Bible Study course on the life of Jesus is available for free. Level B of EasyEnglish is used to write this book. Please see the links below for more online Bible Study books and commentaries that may be of use. Alternatively, you can consult the Word List, which provides explanations for terms marked with a *star.
Alone with God
What did Jesus want to accomplish during those 40 days? People in the Bible were frequently left alone for extended periods of time. These were the kinds of occasions when they prayed and pondered about God. This was frequently the case before they performed a significant service for God. It happened before God had a particular message for them at other occasions. Men such as Moses and Elijah were frequently alone with God for extended periods of time. They were folks who were always on the move.
- When they were alone with God, they gained a greater understanding of him.
- God want for us to get to know him better.
- When we engage in excessive activity, we can easily drive ourselves virtually insane.
- He desires for us to restore our relationship with Him.
- Then we’ll be certain of what he’s looking for.
- We do it for God, and we do it with God’s might.
- He came to show us what it’s like to be God.
He came in order to reconcile us with God.
Jesus is well aware of this.
There is a proper manner to follow God’s commands.
Men are enamored with prominence and power.
The *Devil came to him from the beginning.
The *Devil wanted to make Jesus do wrong things.
This is very important for us, when we work for God.
The *Devil’s scheme
The *Devil* is the ruler of this planet, according to legend. He has authority over others. He manipulates people into doing incorrect things. However, Jesus, who is known as “the great friend of humanity,” had entered the earth. This was noticed by the Devil. God demonstrated this to everyone present during Jesus’ baptism. The *Devil’s dominion was about to come to an end.
Men will be set free from this tyranny when Jesus came. The *Devil made the decision to oppose Jesus with all of his might. He had assaulted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and they had survived. He assaulted the second Adam in the desert from this position. Jesus is known as the second Adam.
How to defeat the *Devil
Adam and Eve had done nothing wrong in the first place. The *Devil attempted to manipulate them into doing terrible things. Christ, on the other hand, had done nothing wrong. The *Devil attempted to influence him to make the incorrect decisions as well. There are two things we may take away from this. The *Devil will make every effort to persuade us to do the wrong thing. This does not constitute a *sin on our part. Even Jesus was subjected to the wrath of the *Devil, who attempted to manipulate him into doing wrong.
This happens to everyone at some point in their lives.
It will happen to us as well.
As a result, he has the ability to empower us to defeat him as well.
Professing Faith: What is the meaning of Christ’s 40-day fast?
As for those of us who work in the liturgical churches, we have once again entered the lengthy and, for some, depressing season of Lent. For 40 days, the devout customarily abstain from something they like, usually a pleasure of some sort, or practice an unique spiritual discipline such as prayer. Interestingly, this period of self-discipline is fashioned after Christ’s renowned 40-day fast in the desert, which is mentioned in both Luke and Matthew’s Gospels, Chapter 4. Mark’s Gospel makes just a fleeting reference to it, and John’s Gospel does not appear to make any mention of it, but there are a few sentences that show he was aware of it.
Observe how Satan tempts Jesus to perform miracles in order to demonstrate his divine nature.
In all of these acts, the New Testament writers thought that Jesus did indeed have the capacity and authority to perform, but in this particular instance, he rejected the devil’s temptations to do them for reasons other than God’s desire by refusing to do them.
Eliot, who best describes this point of view when he says, “The last and ultimate treason is to do the right thing for the wrong cause.” However, claiming that Christ was victorious when he resisted temptation in the desert does not provide an explanation for why it was necessary for him to do so in the first place.
- It must, without a doubt, symbolize more than a simple teaching story to illustrate to Christians how to prepare for Easter by making themselves a little miserable.
- This is a literary method used in biblical literature in which the reader is led to picture Jesus performing things well that the people of ancient Israel, according to Christian belief, did incorrectly.
- If we use this style of interpretation, the Sermon on the Mount would be compared to Moses giving the Law on the mountain, or Jesus feeding the crowds in the wilderness and satisfying them would be compared to the less favorable answers Moses received after feeding his throng.
- The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all make it clear that this special fast was an event that marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
To the first two ideas, this author can only respond with a resounding “fair enough.” If people believe that Jesus was involved in spiritual battle, however, it follows that he must have been tempted by Satan at various points throughout his career, even if such temptations were not always explicitly addressed.
- Even in his own words, Jesus was “one who in every regard has been tempted as we are, yet without sin,” according to the Epistle to the Hebrews.
- Perhaps noting how Jesus dealt with temptation, rather than asking why he was tempted, can provide us with more understanding.
- The wicked one is initially ignored by him, who tells him to “go away,” meaning leave.
- More than anything else, Christ overcomes evil through fasting, that terrible discipline that lends tremendous strength to all of our prayers.
- Christ may have conquered the devil’s temptations exactly because he fasted in the desert and on other occasions, which may or may not have been ongoing at the time of Christ’s death and resurrection.
- “Fasting without prayer is nothing more than a weight-loss scheme,” as one of my youth ministry colleagues likes to remark.
- Gregory Elder, a native of Redlands, is a professor of history and humanities at Moreno Valley College as well as a practicing Roman Catholic priest.
Postal letters should be addressed to: Professing Faith, PO Box 8102, Redlands, CA 92375-1302; email should be addressed to: ataskfathergrego[email protected]; and Twitter should be addressed to: @Fatherelder
Why did Jesus fast for 40 days in preparation for the devil’s temptation?
Matthew 4:2 (KJV) – Matthew 4:2 (KJV) In addition, after forty days and forty nights of fasting, he was ravenous the next day. Answered on May 14th, 2014 by ClarifyShareReport Katrice Johnson is a woman who works in the fashion industry. The responses from the community are arranged according to how many people voted for them. The greater the number of votes, the higher the position of an answer on the list. According to what I’ve read, a human body can survive without food for around 40 days if it has access to water at all times.
- Obviously, there are a lot of variables, but I believe this is the general agreement at this time.
- From this, we might deduce that Christ’s bodily body was on the verge of succumbing to famine when he died.
- “And Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the desert,” according to Luke’s account in verse 4:1.
- The primary biblical meaning of the term tempt is to put something to the test in order to see if it can be done.
- However, while this is correct, I personally feel it was done largely for the purpose of extra validation and proof as to who Jesus Christ truly is.
- The idea that the Father and the Holy Spirit were in heaven wringing their hands and worried whether or not Jesus would pass muster does not occur to me for a moment.
- According to Matthew 4:6, when the devil commands Christ to “throw himself down,” the Lord answers in v.
His God is the Lord.
There is no such account on this site, unfortunately.
Satan was appearing before God in the form of a human being!
Here are a few examples.
Moses stayed on the mountain for 40 days and nights, during which time he received the law.
Following the Israelites’ worship of the golden calf, Moses spent 40 days on top of Mt.
Deuteronomy 9:18-25 is a passage from the Old Testament.
They refused to believe in Numbers 14:34 and were sentenced to one year imprisonment for every day they refused to believe (40 years) A passage from Numbers 32:13.
3:4 (Jonah 3:4) Acts 1:2 recounts that Jesus appeared to His followers for forty days, during which time He spoke of matters pertaining to the kingdom of God. 1 answer received on May 16, 2014 Vote for it, share it, and report it.
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The First Sunday of Lent: Jesus is tempted in the desert // Faith at Marquette // Marquette University
As one Bible scholar pointed out, if Jesus had not revealed this event to some of his disciples, it would not have been included in the stories of his life and work. He is depicted as being susceptible to the deceptions of Satan. In the aftermath of his baptism, why would Jesus go into the desert for a forty-day retreat? For the same reason, individuals go on retreat: to reflect on who they are, where they are heading, and how they will get there in the best possible way. The blurring of one’s perspective on life occurs as a result of all the noise and bustle of everyday existence.
Matthew 4:1-11
At that point, Jesus was brought into the desert by the Holy Spirit, where he was tempted by the devil. He had fasted for forty days and forty nights and had become hungry as a result. “If you are the Son of God, order that these stones be transformed into loaves of bread,” the tempter said as he approached him and added. “It is written: ‘One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,'” he remarked in response. He was then taken to the sacred city, where the devil forced him to stand on the parapet of the temple and demanded that he throw himself down since he was the Son of God.
“Again, it is stated, you shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test,” Jesus said.
It is written: “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and you shall serve him alone,” says the Bible.
Reflection from the Preface of the Mass:
Because of his forty-day fast, this is considered a holy season of self-denial. Choosing to reject Satan’s temptations has taught us to cleanse ourselves of the hidden corruption of evil, and in doing so to eat his paschal feast with purity of heart until we reach the fulfillment of the meal’s completion in the promised land of heaven.
Suggestions for Reflection
- Jesus was tested in the same way that we are. Temptations are not inherently harmful
- Rather, it is how we respond to them that determines whether we turn to God or away from God. Were we tempted by temptations as a means of turning to God rather than relying on our own resources? Is there a difference between the ways Jesus was tempted and the ways we are tempted, or is there a similarity? Satan is inviting Jesus to deny his status as the Son of God, which is hidden under the surface of the various temptations he faces. Temptations, aren’t they, an encouragement to abandon the sort of person we want to be and instead turn to harmful means of satisfying ourselves? By refusing to give in to the temptations, Jesus opted to rely on his Father to fulfill his deepest hunger, to relate to people in a normal way, and to not place his trust in his reputation, power, or wealth to provide for him. How can we sate our most insatiable cravings? Do we rely on our position of prominence and power to make ourselves acceptable to others
- And Are we going to utilize the forty days of Lent as a time of retreat, setting aside time for extra introspection and prayer