How Did Jesus Fast For 40 Days And 40 Nights

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.
Jay Richards is the Executive Editor of The Stream and an Assistant Research Professor at theBusch School of Business and Economics at the Catholic University of America.

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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!

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.

Answering Critical Questions: Why Did Jesus Fast for 40 Days by Micah Lovell

It is this last occurrence of the number 40 that we should pay particular attention to, because it is clear that Jesus is directly responding to it when, following His baptism, He travels to the Judean wilderness to fast for 40 days in the wilderness. When it comes to preparation, cleansing, focusing, and penitential prayer, fasting was extremely common in the ancient world and it continues to be common in modern times as a method of preparation. The act, on the other hand, is performed by believers who are conscious of their own sinful nature and their need for mercy and grace.

So, why does He observe a fast?
Many parallels can be drawn between the 40 days that Jesus spends in the wilderness and the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness, which occurred approximately 1500 years prior to Jesus’ birth.
But the people still complained, some who directly disobeyed God’s command and demonstrated their lack of faith that God would sustain them just as He always had.
Jesus refuses.
Jesus needed to feed on the Living Bread from God more than He needed physical sustenance in the moment of His temptation.
Jesus’ work puts to rest the idea that any of us can defeat the power of darkness completely alone.
Yet they were a disappointing son, a son that continuously rebelled; a prodigal, only kept alive by the severe mercy of the Father.

He is the capital “S” Son of God, who will come through His temptation victorious where the other son of God has failed.

The greater point being made is that Jesus, being filled by the Spirit and in obedience to the Father, defeats the power of sin by overcoming the curse, or in the case of His death upon the cross, by becoming the curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

His defeat of Satan in the desert displayed the power of the sustaining presence of God’s Word in the midst of temptation.

Jesus and Identity Jesus’ time of physical fasting would have put His humanity in the weakest possible position.

But in that moment, instead of physical food, Jesus feeds on God’s Word, the only thing sustaining Him against the prince of darkness.

When we pray in Jesus name, especially in times of personal weakness and desperation, we have an intercessor who knows the kind of physical weakness we possess.

And in our time of fasting and prayer, we can feast upon His Word, allowing the Lord to do His work in us and preparing us to be ministers in His Kingdom.

Micah Lovell is the General Editor of Worthy of the Gospel, a Songtime Publication, and a frequent contributor to the Songtime website. He is also the headmaster of Abington Christian Academy, a Classical Christian School in Pennsylvania.

Verse by Verse Ministry International

We were reading at Matthew 4:1-11, which is about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness, with my bible study group. What we wanted to know was if it was a literal 40 days, or if those 40 days might be interpreted as a metaphor for Jesus’ whole stay on this planet. Perhaps the desert represents this world because it is as barren and devoid of spiritual nutrition as a true desert is devoid of food and water, and so it could serve as a metaphor for it. Assuming Jesus was a fully developed human being, he would have perished after 40 actual days without food or drink, wouldn’t he?

One of the most important laws of good interpretation is the Golden Rule, which asserts that when the plain meaning of scripture makes common sense, there is no need to look for any other meaning.

With regard to Matthew 4, which contains the narrative of Jesus’ 40-day fast, there is no reason for seeking a secondary or alternative meaning for the terms “Jesus fasted” and “Jesus fasted for 40 days.” The correct interpretation is that Jesus did, in fact, fast for a period of 40 days in succession.

Matt. 4:1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.Matt. 4:2And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.

Take note that the text states that Jesus fasted. No specifics are given as to the sort of fast He underwent. Furthermore, it is stated that towards the conclusion of the fasting period, Jesus became hungry himself (but not thirsty). Finally, when we examine Luke’s Gospel account of the identical event, we discover the following:

Luke 4:1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wildernessLuke 4:2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.

During the 40 days, according to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus “did not eat anything.” Based on these meticulous observations, we may conclude that Jesus fasted just from eating, rather than from food and water. Throughout the 40-day period, he appeared to have been drinking water. This is characteristic of the Jewish fasting practices that were prevalent at the time. Jews will fast either from eating alone or from food and drink for a specified period of time. Unlike food fasts, which may last up to forty days, food and drink fasts can only last for seven days or less.

In truth, 40-day food fasts are still performed today by both Jews and Christians, despite the passage of time.

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?

Or does it really make a difference how many days there are in a month how long it takes?
It wouldn’t surprise me if the forty days of fasting that the Bible claims Jesus underwent were accurate.
I couldn’t find a heading that said “fasting,” so I went ahead and inquired.
Kim_ Dear Kim, I am writing to express my gratitude for the time you have taken to read this letter.
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.
If this is actually accurate, it simply serves to strengthen Jesus’ claim to be the only begotten Son of God.
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.
There is also the notion that fasting may signify various things to different people, which is supported by research.
This opens the door to the possibility that he did consume food and drink, although the amount would have been negligible.
It has absolutely no effect on the core concept that the scriptures are attempting to convey.

That is, Jesus had completely conquered his bodily impulses to the point that Satan’s temptations had no effect on him anymore. I believe that is a beautiful illustration of what we should be aiming for in our lives. Gramps

First Lent: These Forty Days

The First Sunday of Lent: These Forty Days of Fasting As you are probably aware, Lent began on Ash Wednesday, which was last Wednesday. The forty days of Lent stem from Jesus’ 40-day and 40-night fast in order to wage war against the tempter, known as the devil. The number 40 appears several times in the Bible, however it is not the sole instance. While Noah and his family were in the ark, it poured continuously for 40 days and 40 nights. When the Covenant of the Ten Commandments was formed on MtSinai, Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights with God in the presence of the Almighty.

When they returned, they brought with them magnificent stories about the land’s riches, as well as terrifying ones about its inhabitants.
They were sceptical about His promise to give them this territory.
They were chastised by being forced to walk the desert for 40 years as a punishment for their lack of faith.
He fell asleep in the desert but was roused twice by an angel, who brought him food and water to drink and brought him back to life.
God spoke to him in a low, calm voice, giving him the instructions he needed for the development of the trust in Yahweh.
Numerical references in the Bible are not intended to be taken literally.

For Christians, the number 40 represents a period of need, struggle, and testing in preparation for a new relationship with God, whether it be after the flood with Noah, as the children of Israel with Moses, in the promised landwith Joshua, with the belief in Yahweh restored with Elijah, with the New Kingdom of God to be preached by Jesus, or withthe Life of the Spirit given after Jesus’ Ascension.

For Christians, Lent is a period of preparation for our position in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Lent is a time when we prepare for Easter and also prepare to commit ourselves to the work of the Kingdom for the rest of our lives.
Consider the possibility that a prayer time or a discipline we create during Lent will become a permanent part of our life.
He had the physical strength to bear them.
It is the powers of evil that seek to destroy God’s Presence in us and prevent us from bringing this Presence to others that we are under siege.
“Take these stones and turn them into bread,” we say when we make it our life’s mission to keep our bellies full, or, in other words, when we are selfish.
When we are only concerned with ourselves, our lives are undoubtedly empty.

We require his Word in order to have a sense of purpose.

We will all be gone and most likely forgotten when we are no longer on this planet.

There is a portion of everyone of us that will endure.

When you live for the Lord, there is nothing self-centered about it.

That we have some sort of authority over God is the temptation, just as the devil enticed Adam and Eve to defy God and become equal to Him in the Garden of Eden.

Nonetheless, I believe that we are being enticed to adopt the world’s relativism and consider ourselves to be at the center of the cosmos.

Pope Benedict has written on the plague of relativism, which he describes as modern man’s willingness to forsake principles in order to satisfy his own selfish interests.

In our opinion, God is not required to recognize or approve our decisions even if they are in violation of objective morality.

The final temptation that was placed before Jesus was the temptation to give up our faith in order to gain power and authority.

People working in the corporate sector are sometimes tempted to make sacrifices in their Christian beliefs in order to enhance their professional careers.

“Lord Jesus, have pity on me, a sinner,” I used to recite as part of the Pilgrim’s Prayer.

During the 40 days of Lent, we fight against all of the temptations that we face that lead us to drive God out of our life.

We are looking for methods to enhance our relationship with God, and we are praying more.

This is something that families should definitely do in the evening.

Fasting does not only imply giving up anything; it also entails gaining control over one’s own actions.

Almsgiving is defined as charitable contributions to those who are less fortunate in health, mind, and spirit.

“Our God Saves” is the meaning of Jesus’ given name.

He fought against the devil and the world in order to save us. We spend the 40 days of Lent committing ourselves to helping Hin save others, since the One whose life is inside each of us has personally involved us in the transformation of the world into the Kingdom of God (Matthew 25:31-46).

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?

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!

Jesus Fasts 40 Days and 40 Nights

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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

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.

This is not the first time someone has attempted anything like this.
Others have attempted to fast for lengthy periods of time, but have failed, suffering either permanent health consequences or death as a result.
Many Christians observe a fast.
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.
Fasting is especially mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Human people are capable of entirely abstaining from eating for a period of 40 days, and others believe they can go much longer.
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 wilderness helped him prepare for his future as a public servant.

But sometimes fasting can be a cause for spiritual pride or vainglory. At its worst, it can be like achieving a personal best in some athletics event. But what really counts is God, and whether it helps us in our walk with him. Follow Mark Woods on Twitter:@RevMarkWoods

Matthew 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

(2) Forty-two days and forty nights. – The fasts of Moses (Exodus 34:28) and Elijah (1Kings 19:8) are clearly paralleled here, and we may conclude that this was done on purpose. Longer-term fasts of almost the same duration have been documented in more recent times. In the case of any human organism, and thus in the case of our Lord’s true humanity, the consequence of such a fast would be to break the ordinary continuity of existence and to intensify all impressions of the spiritual realm to a new level of intensity.

Luke depicts the Temptation as ongoing during the entire period, implying that what is recorded was only the culmination of the previous conflicts, which were gathered into a single conflict by which it was preceded.
Mark’s account (because he does not provide the exact narrative of the temptations) (Mark 1:13).
He remained famished for the rest of the day.
The demands of the body had finally manifested themselves, and the Tempter found the beginning point for his first attack in them, as well as in the memory of the heavenly witness who had been born forty days earlier.
It came across more clearly this time.
He became famished as a result of his ordeal.
However, despite the fact that his humanity had been elevated and his spiritual sense had been heightened as a result of this at the moment virtually unconscious fast, it left him physically prostrate and entirely vulnerable.

It is the weary body that becomes subject to a life-threatening sinking.

It was the exact moment the tempter had been waiting for to launch his final assault” (Godet).

Matthew mentions nothing about this, instead describing the concluding events, during which the tempter’s might was felt to the fullest extent and his defeat was of the utmost significance.

Trench made the following observation, which is definitely worth considering: “Upon closer inspection, we see that the number or signature of penalty, of affliction, of the confession, or the punishment, of sin may be found everywhere” (Studies, p.

Nights.

Commentaries that run in parallel.

To refrain from food is derived from the Latin nestis.

The decade of tessares; forty days (hmeras) in a year Accusative Feminine PluralStrong’s 2250: A day is defined as the time span from sunrise to sunset, inclusive.

fortyτεσσεράκοντα(tesserakonta) Adjective – Accusative Feminine PluralStrong’s 5062:Forty is an adjective with an accusative feminine plural ending.

‘Night’ is a fundamental term.

ἐπείνασεν(epeinasen) The Aorist Indicative Active tense is in the third person.

From the same root as penes; to be famished; to crave (figuratively).

Matthew 4:2 (Biblical Reference) Paralela Matthew 4:2 Chinese Version of the Bible French translation of Matthew 4:2 in the Bible Gospel of Matthew 4:2 in the Catholic Bible Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew 4:2 (KJV) As soon as he had fasted for forty days (Matt. Mat Mt)

With Jesus in the Wilderness for 40 Days – Sword of the Spirit

— written by Don Schwager A site of trial and error, encounter, and rebirth What drove Jesus to spend 40 days and nights in the Judean desert in isolation, prayer, and fasting is still a mystery today. This desert area was essentially inhospitable, and anybody who ventured into it for an extended period of time would be in grave peril. The dangers of blistering heat during the day and extreme cold during the night, as well as the dangers of wild animals and scorpions, as well as the paucity of food and water The desert served as a location of trial, encounter, and rejuvenation for God’s chosen people Israel, as well as for many of its leaders.

As a time of cleansing and preparation for entry into the promised land, this was regarded as a holy period.

After being supplied with bread from heaven, Elijah went through the desert for 40 days without sustenance to reach the mountain of God, where he was eventually killed (1 Kings 19:8).

When Jesus went into the desert to pray and fast for a lengthy period of time, why did he chose such a desolate, lonely location?

It is stated most forcefully by Mark: “Immediately, the Spirit drove him out into the desert” (Mark 1:12).

Was it merely to put himself through his paces and prepare him for his mission?

In English, the word tempt typically refers to enticing someone to do something that is improper or forbidden.

We put airline pilots through rigorous testing to ensure that they are capable of flying in any weather circumstances, including bad turbulence and low visibility.

God tested Abraham on several times in order to demonstrate his faith and to deepen his confidence in God’s promises.

When the Israelites were put through a harrowing ordeal in Egypt for more than 400 years, they did not lose sight of God.

Jesus was tested in the same way that we are.

He traveled to the desert with no food in his stomach.

Their disobedience resulted in them eating the forbidden fruit because they placed their faith in themselves rather than in God.

For people who have lost their way, Jesus gladly traverses the desert in order to reclaim Paradise on their behalf.

Jesus responds with Scripture when Satan attempts to persuade him to change stones into food.

With regard to this text, Jerome, the renowned bible scholar who lived near the Judean desert (347-420 AD) has the following to say: The Lord answered in this manner because it was his intention to defeat the demon by humility rather than through strength.

In what source did Jesus draw the strength he needed to endure the hard circumstances of the desert and the temptation of the tempter?

Satan will undoubtedly entice us, and he will do all in his power to persuade us to choose our own desires over God’s.

Jesus was tempted in the same way that we are, and he defeated sin not through his own human effort, but through the grace and power that his Father bestowed upon him.

In order to satisfy his Father, he set off on his journey with the hope and confidence that his Father would provide him with the strength he needed to tackle the challenges that lay ahead.

When Jesus was tempted by the devil, he did not attempt to combat his enemy solely on the basis of his human might.

Jesus came to defeat the wicked one who had held us captive to sin and the fear of death for thousands of years (Hebrews 2:14).

Because of his triumph over sin and death, we have received not only forgiveness for our sins, but also adoption as God’s sons and daughters.

We all have sin and moral weakness in our life, but how can we get over them?

Those who are humble and admit their reliance on the Lord (James 4:6) are blessed by the Lord.

(1 Peter 5:8-10; Ephesians 6:10-18).

Our God desires for us to “fight the good battle of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) with the power and strength that comes from inside us through the Holy Spirit.

For me, your word is full of life and joy.” I pray that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may have the strength and courage to follow your will in all things and to abandon everything that is in opposition to it.” Besides being a member of TheServants of the Word, Don Schwager is also the author of the Daily Scripture Reading and Meditationwebsite.

This story was taken from the February 2020 issue of Living Bulwark. With permission, this image has been used. «We have a new, “refreshed” image. «The Alleluia of Easter»