Why did Jesus wait 40 days?

Answer 1

It is hard to explain why Jesus would need to fast for 40 days since, as the Son of God, he would have no spiritual need for such a challenge. However, the early Christians had not yet developed the more modern concept of Jesus as divine. In the earliest New Testament gospel, now known as the Gospel of Mark, Jesus was adopted by God as his son at Jesus' baptism. Thus, Jesus was still being seen as much more human than he is today.

Mark 1:13 is the original account of Jesus going into the wilderness for forty days immediately after his baptism by John. He was ministered by angels, an allusion to Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-7) who was ministered by an angel and in the wilderness forty days. There is no actual suggestion that Jesus fasted for this time, and being ministered by angels no reason for him to do so, but those familiar with the story of Elijah are likely to have assumed he did. This brings into play another allusion, to Moses when (Exodus 34:28) he fasted for 40 days while he wrote the words of the Ten Commandments on tablets. These allusions can be confirmed because this passage matches another reference to Elijah and Moses, in a literary sequence called a parallel structure.

Matthew and Luke do not follow Mark at this point, but follow the 'Q' document in which the allusion to Elijah differs in a subtle way, taking the angel out of the gospel story and instead having Jesus fast for forty days, just as Elijah did after the angel ministered to him. In this version, the further allusion to Exodus 34:28 is more readily recognised, and there is no longer any doubt that Jesus fasted.

The synoptic gospels tell us that Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days in order to draw the necessary parallel with Elijah and Moses.

Answer 2

There are many reasons. One of the chiefmost was to purposely weaken himself physically so he could be tempted by the Devil at the end of his fast. He wanted to show that people even in their weakened state still have free will to choose God over something else.

//Fasting is a way to cleanse the body, letting it rest temporarily from the digestive process. While in the desert Jesus was under an extreme amount of stress being tempted by Satan. He had to be physically and mentally strong while in the presence of such power, especially evil power. He needed all resources available to Him. Fasting helped Him endure during this trying period of time.//

Answer 3

Another answer from our community:

Jesus spent this period of fasting in order to prepare Himself for His earthly ministry which was about to begin. It also prepared Him for the time of temptation by the devil in the wilderness.

Another Answer

The number Forty is very special to the ancient Jews and early Christians; maybe for them the number 40 have some sort of Mystical Powers or Sympathetic Magic. There are maybe at least ten instances in the Old Testament and New Testament where 40 occurs, either in years or days. Example;. it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, Moses was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights, the Israelites wandered 40 years, Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days and was seen on the earth for 40 days after His crucifixion.

Answer 4

A:It is hard to explain why Jesus would need to spend 40 days in the wilderness since, as the Son of God, he would have no spiritual need for such a challenge. Even temptation by Satan should be meaningless for the divine Son of God, except perhaps to impress readers of the gospel. However, the early Christians had not yet developed the more modern concept of Jesus as divine. In the earliest New Testament gospel, now known as the Gospel of Mark, Jesus was adopted by God as his son at Jesus' baptism. Thus, Jesus was still being seen as much more human than he is today.

Mark 1:13 is the original account of Jesus going into the wilderness for forty days immediately after his baptism by John. He was ministered by angels, an allusion to Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-7) who was ministered by an angel and in the wilderness forty days. There is no actual suggestion that Jesus fasted for this time and, being ministered by angels, no reason for him to do so but those familiar with the story of Elijah are likely to have assumed he did. This brings into play another allusion, to Moses when (Exodus 34:28) he fasted for 40 days while he wrote the words of the Ten Commandments on tablets. These allusions can be confirmed because this passage matches another reference to Elijah and Moses, in what is called a chiastic structure.

Matthew and Luke depart from Mark at this point, instead following the 'Q' document in which the allusion to Elijah differs in a subtle way. The angel is taken out of the gospel story and instead Jesus fasts for forty days, just as Elijah did after the angel ministered to him. In this version, the further allusion to Exodus 34:28 is more readily recognised, and there is no longer any doubt that Jesus fasted.

The synoptic gospels tell us that Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days in order to draw the necessary parallel with Elijah and Moses.

A:Immediately following His baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. A:The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted and humbled to discern what was in his Heart, and test His resolve whether or not he would keep God's commands.

Answer 5

One has to remember that even though He spent so long a time in the desert He did not travel around the desert. Most of His time was spent in prayer and meditation, to help Him prepare for what was to come. Certainly He was weak for want of food and drink, this is the reason Satan came to temp Him. One also has to remember that angels came to give him comfort.

Answer 6

A:After his baptism by John the Baptist, the synoptic gospels say that Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days, an allusion to the prophet Elijah.

Mark 1:13 tells of Jesus in the wilderness forty days, ministered to by an angel, just as Elijah was ministered by an angel and in the wilderness forty days (1 Kings 19:5-7). This was the very earliest account of Jesus in the wilderness and does not imply that Jesus fasted for forty days, unless we read this back from the later gospels.

The 'Q' document follows the allusion to Elijah in a subtly different way, taking the angel out of the gospel story and instead having Jesus fast for forty days (in the company of Satan), just as Elijah did after the angel ministered to him. This version in found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Q (Matthew and Luke) also adds a theological justification for this passage, by having Jesus prevail over Satan.

A:

John Gill in his bible commentary suggest that Jesus fasted to prepare himself for his ministry:

"And when he had fasted forty days..... As Moses did, when he was about to deliver the law to the Israelites, Exo_34:28 and as Elijah did, when he bore his testimony for the Lord of hosts, 1Ki_19:8 so did Christ, when he was about to publish the Gospel of his grace, and bear witness to the truth." - J Gill Bible commentary.

Answer 7

Another answer form our community:

It seems there is no standard significance to the number 40 but there may be a connection between Jesus and Moses. Moses fasted in Mt Sinai for 40 days (Exodus 34:28) Now Jesus fasted for 40 days.

Answer 8

Here the question is which forty days are you asking about. If it was the first 40 days , before Jesus started his earthly ministry . Or are you asking about the last 40 days when he was on the earth after he was on the cross. The first time was to prepare for his ministry. The last was to be with the disciples and leave tem with hope.

Answer 9

He did this several times. He went alone into the desert and fasted the entire time. The devil joined him there and tried to corrupt Jesus. Satan said he would give Jesus the entire earth if only he would worship him. Of course He did not.

The second time was after his resurrection. Scripture tells us that after He had risen from the dead he walked the earth for 40 days, appearing to his followers so that they would believe who He really is. After the 40 days were over He ascended to the Father in heaven.

Answer 10

Mark's Gospel contains the original account of Jesus going into the wilderness for forty days immediately after his baptism by John. From the framework structure of Mark's Gospel, we recognise that the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness was intended as an allusion to Elijah and Moses. Mark 1:13 tells the story of Jesus going into the wilderness for forty days, ministered by angels just as Elijah was ministered by an angel and in the wilderness forty days (1 Kings 19:5-7). There is no actual suggestion in Markthat Jesus fasted for this time (that was added in Matthewand Luke), but those familiar with the story of Elijah are likely to have assumed he did do so. This brings into play another allusion, to Moses when (Exodus 34:28) he fasted for 40 days while he wrote the words of the Ten Commandments on tablets.

The framework structure links Jesus' 40 days to Elijah and Moses in the pair groups BCD and B'C'D' in the following list:A . John explains the coming of Jesus (Mark 1:1-8)

B .The baptism of Jesus (1:9)

C . The voice of God from heaven, "Thou art my beloved son" (1:11)

D . The forty days in the wilderness as an allusion to Elijah and Moses (1:13)

E . The people were astonished at what Jesus taught (1:22)

F . Jesus casts out an unclean spirit (1:23-26)

G . Pharisees took counsel with the Herodians how they might destroy Jesus (3:6)

H . Demons, whenever they see Jesus, fall down and say that he is the Son of God.

-- Jesus commands that they tell no one of this (3:11-12)

I .. Jesus calls the 12 disciples (3:13-19)

J .. Jesus rejects his own family: he has a new family, his followers (3:31-35)

K . Jesus rebukes the wind (4:36-41)

L . The demoniac, wearing no clothes (5:15), cries out that Jesus not torment him and Jesus sends out the demons (5:1-20)

M . Jesus comes into his own country (6:1)
-- Where he was brought up

N . The people misunderstand Jesus and he can do no mighty work (6:2-6)

O . Jesus sends out the disciples and curses those who will not receive them (6:7-11)
-- in sending the disciples with authority and expecting all to receive them, Jesus is asserting his own authority

P . Herod thinks that Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead (6:14)

Q . Herodias and her daughter conspire to kill John the Baptist (6:16-29)

R . Feeding the thousands, and related miracles and discourses (6:33-8:21)

S . Who do people say that I am (8:27)

T . Peter affirms faith in Jesus as the Christ (8:29)

U . Whosoever shall be ashamed of me: of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed (8:38)

V . The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes (8:31a)

W . Be killed and after three days rise again (8:31b)

X . Prophecy of second coming (9:1)- Jesus tells the disciples that some of them would not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God coming with power.

B' .The Transfiguration of Jesus (9:2-3)

C' .The voice of God from heaven, "This is my beloved son" (9:7)

D' . Jesus talks to Elijah and Moses then to the disciples about Elijah (9:4-13)

E' .A great multitude was amazed at Jesus (9:15)

F' .Jesus cast out a dumb spirit (9:17-27)

G' .They shall kill the Son of man and he shall rise on the third day (9:31)

H' .Jesus clarifies his divine status, saying that he is not God: "Why call me good? There is none good but God" (10:18)

I' . Peter says the disciples have left all and followed Jesus (10:28)

J' . Those who have left their family for Jesus have a new family: all Jesus' followers (10:29-30)

K'. Jesus rebukes the 'sons of thunder', James and John (10:35-45 - cf 3:17)

L' .Blind Bartimaeus cries out for mercy and casts off his clothes, then Jesus heals him (10:46-52)

M' .Jesus comes into Jerusalem (11:1-10)
-- Where he will die

N' .Jesus misunderstands the fig tree that can provide no fruit (11:13-14)

O' .Jesus casts out them that sold and bought in the Temple and curses them for making the Temple a den of thieves (11:15-17)
-- Jesus is asserting his authority

P' .Jesus asks whether the baptism of John is from heaven or of men, and the priests, scribes and elders can not answer (11:30-33)

Q' .Parable of husbandmen who conspire to kill the vineyard owner's son (12:1-9)

X' .Prophecy of second coming (chapter 13)

-- on clouds of glory, within the lifetimes of some of those to whom he was speaking

R' .The Last Supper (14:17-25)

S' .Art thou the Christ, Son of God (14:61)

T' .Peter denies Jesus three times (14:66-72a)

U' .And when he thought thereon, Peter wept (14:72b)

V' .The chief priests, elders and scribes delivered Jesus to Pontius Pilate (15:1)

-- Delivering Jesus is a similar concept to rejecting him.
-- Both parts of the pair involve chief priests, elders and scribes

W' .Jesus dies and on the third day rises again (15:37, 16:6)

A' .The young man explains the departure of Jesus(16:6-8)