Why Did Jesus Fast?
Why Did Jesus Fast?
Fasting is often spoken of throughout the Scriptures. The Bible tells us that Jesus fasted. Many people fast and they do so for different reasons.
Why did Jesus fast? The only record we have of Jesus fasting in the Scripture is in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. This took place after the baptism of Jesus, where God the Father announced to the public that Jesus was His Son after John the Baptizer proclaimed His purpose to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to fast for forty days and nights and to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-2). It is gleaned from the Scriptures that Jesus fasted in humility to worship and grow in dependence upon His Father. Although there are no further records of Jesus fasting, this is not enough to confirm or deny that Jesus fasted little or often.
Although the answer seems simple, let us dig deeper to discover more of why Jesus fasted. For more on Jesus, see our article: Christianity 101
A Biblical Foundation on the Purpose of Fasting
Many people will abuse Scripture to attempt to gain something. Fasting is not to gain anything from God. God is not our butler, our servant, or our slave. He is also not a genie or a vending machine that dispenses whatever we want if we do the right things before asking. God is not ruling and reigning in heaven upon His throne simply to make our lives better.
In light of these truths, fasting should never be used as a tool or means to manipulate God into giving us what we desire. Sadly, many people twist fasting into exactly this type of manipulative behavior. Often, the confusion comes from a misunderstanding of God's covenant with His chosen people, Israel.
I do not wish to confuse “prosperity” with the truth of God's benevolent and most gracious love given to us through His Son. God has lavished His love upon His people in Christ. He is offering us eternal life and reconciliation through Jesus. Even adopting us as sons and daughters and making us co-heirs with Christ (Ephesians 1:5; Galatians 4:6-7).
However, this is not to be confused with God existing to make our earthly lives better or more comfortable according to worldly definition. Fasting is a discipline. By fasting, man can focus upon the Lord, seek Him, and grow in dependence towards Him.
Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:3)
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. (Nehemiah 9:1)
And then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. (Luke 2:37)
There are many verses on fasting. I encourage you to read them in context. Above are only a few to demonstrate the point. The point that fasting was generally understood to be an act of humility and dependence before the Lord, to seek and worship Him.
40 Days and Nights
We must remember the context of Jesus's fast for forty days and nights. This was after His baptism. Before His public earthly ministry began. It is important to note why Jesus came. He came to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). To live a perfect and sinless life, bearing witness of the Father, and giving His life as a ransom for all who would believe upon Him!
Jesus lived a life of complete dependence upon God.
Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (John 5:19)
Jesus lived His earthly life in complete dependence upon God. Devoting Himself to depend and worship God through His life wholly. The records are given of Jesus fasting for forty days and nights, and in them, we observe Christ’s dependence and worship.
For the sake of time, let us look to the account of Jesus fasting in Matthew. The account in Luke is very similar. Luke recorded it differently as he was writing to a different audience. As always, I encourage you to read the entire book of Matthew or the first few chapters for context. As you read, be sure to focus on the temptations. They will give an understanding into the mind and ministry of Christ.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,
‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. (Matthew 4:1-11)
The devil tempted Jesus at least three times. In them, we observe that Jesus declares dependence upon God alone, humility, and worship to God alone. If you seek to study fasting in the Scriptures, you will find these three truths associated with fasting:
Humility
Dependence
Worship
Jesus set Himself to seek His Father before His public ministry began. To humbly submit Himself to God in dependence and worship.
We must learn from our Lord and Savior in this. As we set our face to seek the Lord through spiritual disciplines. Let us do so in humility, dependence, and worship.
Is your life characterized by these three traits? If not, I encourage you to supplement your faith with them. So that through practicing these qualities we will not fall and will be richly provided an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:10-11).
For more on the fruit of Christians, see our article: The Fruit of Christians
Related Questions
Why do people fast? Fasting is a practice found in the Bible. Fasting is usually a voluntary and total absence from food for some period of time. During the time of a fast, the individual would devote themselves to seeking the Lord and His will. Fasting typically fosters a heart and attitude of dependence as one relies upon God for their strength and sustenance.
How did Jesus ascend into heaven? Jesus ascended into heaven on a cloud. “And when He had said these things, they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). He was able to ascend to heaven because He first descended from heaven in order to fulfill the Scriptures (Ephesians 4:8-10).
How old was Jesus when He died? Jesus began His earthly ministry around 30 years of age. This was not due to maturity. Instead, it was custom for the culture for one to become a teacher at the age of 30. His earthly ministry lasted roughly three years. It ended in Jesus's crucifixion on a Roman cross. Thus, Jesus was approximately 33 years old when He died. However, He did not stay dead but was resurrected on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He is alive today and forevermore (Romans 6:9).