This passage has a very strong connection with Lent and certainly includes fasting. Jesus had been baptised by John the Baptist and he was about to begin his earthly ministry that would ultimately lead to the cross. Before the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was tested in the wilderness and this included fasting for forty days and forty nights.
What I find really interesting about this passage is the biblical resonance – the echoes from the past. The Israelites after escaping Egypt were tested in the wilderness for forty years. The nation that was supposed to be a blessing to all nations, which some how never happened. And now we have the one God-man – Jesus, being tested in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights, who would change the world and be a blessing to millions down the ages. Another echo is that Moses stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights prior to the formation of the ten commandments.
There is a certain historical rhyme to these events that adds to the significance of our passage today. In our passage we read, 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. I would venture to say that this is a classic understatement.
And we note that the first test or temptation was Satan saying, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
And make no mistake here. Jesus could have done this, and Satan knew this too. The temptation would have been great – having not eaten for forty days. But 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
We go back to Israelites in the wilderness just before they were to enter the promised land. Moses said many things to them to both warn and encourage them. And here is one of the things he said talking of God, He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deut 8:3. And this is what Jesus quoted to satan.
In our material world, we can hunger after many things – not just food. We can hunger for love, money, possessions, status, security. We can hunger for all manner of things. But Moses said, and quoted by Jesus, that there is more to life than our physical and emotional needs. It is our spiritual connection to our heavenly father that gives a whole new dimension to living a good and fulfilled life. This was true then and it is certainly true today.
We hear of people today who have attained great fame and fortune. They have it all and yet there is still something missing in their lives. That missing connection with a loving and faithful father God. There can be no substitute, no matter how hard we try to fill our lives with things that won’t last and we certainly can’t take with us when we leave this earth.
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Listening to God which is so often a small voice in the clamour of our lives. Words and thoughts of goodness that will guide our way and give us peace in a turbulent world.
Final thoughts
How we approach Lent is a very personal issue. In some traditions, certain days are earmarked for fasting, some will commit to giving something up that is important to them. But I can’t help but thinking of the words of Isaiah that we looked at two weeks ago on Ash Wednesday. Isaiah spoke of the mockery of insincere fasting – going through the motions – and making sure that others would see the sackcloth and ashes – but not their hearts.
6 ‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
It would appear that fasting is a lot more than just giving something up or going without. It is a personal issue for each one of us and how we respond will depend on our own personal circumstances. This is very much a heart issue. For some this might involve going without food or something else. But I hear Isaiah’s words ringing in my ears, and they say that we should also be looking to do good and help others who are in need.
May we draw close to our heavenly father during this time of Lent and beyond, and seek opportunities to be his hands and his feet but above all his heart. Amen.