Why did Jesus fast?

Answer

Fasting is a practice found throughout Scripture. A fast in the Bible is typically a voluntary, complete abstinence from food for a specific period to devote oneself to seeking God. Fasting denies our flesh its desires so that we can focus more clearly on strengthening our spirits.

It appears that Jesus did not fast frequently. In fact, His critics criticized Him for “eating and drinking” «The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. », (Matthew 11:19). There is only one documented instance in Scripture of Jesus fasting. This fast immediately followed His baptism «Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. », (Matthew 3:13), which marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Matthew 4:1–2 states that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to fast for forty days and nights. During that fasting period, Jesus faced repeated temptations from the devil. This time of testing prepared Him for the three-year ministry that would impact the world.

Throughout those forty days, when Jesus was at His weakest physically, He endured relentless temptation from Satan. Satan presented Him with alternatives to God’s plan, compromises that would satisfy His natural desires, and attacks on His identity as the Son of God «And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. », (Matthew 4:3). Jesus relied on the Word of God, not His own strength, to overcome those temptations and remain victorious over sin. He showed us that fasting can strengthen us.Strengthen us spiritually when we use it to draw closer to God.

After Jesus’ fast, the devil left Him and “angels came and attended him” «Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. », (Matthew 4:11). Luke 4:14 concludes the account of this testing time by saying, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” He had conquered temptation and was ready to embrace the purpose for which the Father had sent Him. He would not rely on His humanity to perform miracles, deliver the oppressed, or defeat death. Fasting was a way to declare mastery over His human nature so that He would live every moment directed by the “power of the Spirit” «In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. », (Luke 10:21). He set the example for us who “are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit” «But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. », (Romans 8:9). If the Son of God did not rely on His flesh to live in obedience to God, then we can’t either.