Most Christians around the world usually fast for specific reasons and periods, as Jesus also fasted in the Bible. From the New Testament, we see that Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, where he fasted for 40 days and nights. However, most bible readers are always curious to know, “did Jesus drink water during his fast?
It is impossible to determine whether Jesus drank water during his fast in the wilderness, as the Bible does not explicitly reveal that. However, most bible scholars and theologians have agreed that there is a possibility that Jesus drank water while fasting, basing their assumption on Luke 4:2, where the Bible reveals that Jesus ate nothing during the days he was in the wilderness and that he was hungry at the end of them.
So, did Jesus abstain from drinking any water during his fast? Is drinking water allowed when fasting in Christianity? Can you drink water during a spiritual fast? Was Jesus literally in the wilderness? How did Jesus survive 40 days in the wilderness without drinking water? To know the answers to these questions and more, kindly read on.
Did Jesus abstain from drinking any water during his fast?
Most religious scholars have suggested that Jesus most likely drank water during his stay in the wilderness. First, they argue that the Bible would have been clear on Jesus not drinking anything, as it was clear on him not eating anything. They suggest that Jesus could have drunk water through his fast. Luke 4:2 says, “where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them, he was hungry.”
The Bible clearly states that Jesus ate nothing and was hungry when he ended his fast. If Jesus had abstained from drinking water, the nibble could probably have noted that he had drunk nothing and was thirsty.
Moreover, we should remember that when Jesus came to earth, he went into a normal human body that operated like any average physical body. Medical experts have revealed that an average man cannot live more than ten days without water, while very few individuals can hit 21 days without water. For this reason, it is insane even to think Jesus would have lived for 40 days and nights without tasting water.
Is drinking water allowed when fasting in Christianity?
Drinking water is allowed when fasting in Christianity if the fasting a Christian calls for water consumption. There are several fasts in Christian denominations that a Christian can practice. For instance, there is a type of fast called a full fast. During this fasting, one is not required to eat or drink any liquid.
With this fast, one has wholly denied any food or water intake for a certain period to nourish themselves spiritually.
The second type of fasting in Christianity is partial fasting, in which a person can choose to fast while staying away from food and water or away from food alone. With this, the particular Christian will drink water because it is essential for any human body while abstaining from anything chewable until their fast is over.
All in all, Christians are encouraged to know their primary purpose of fasting and not put their focus on what they will do or not do when it comes to physical nourishment. God looks at the heart of the person fasting, not whether they choose to stay away from food or water.
Can you drink water during a spiritual fast?
You can drink water during a spiritual fast. When one is on a spiritual fast, they are called to focus more on connecting themselves spiritually with God as they look to grow in their spirit. Water will not take away any glory that one gives God during their spiritual fast.
In Isaiah 58, God is evident in what he wants the fast of his people to look like. When answering why he was not accepting the prayers of the Israelites, he condemned them for the kind of fasting they were doing based on the physical and outward show-offs. God then revealed what he wanted them to do for their fast to be appropriate, for him to answer their prayers. No scripture condemning water consumption is named in this chapter, showing that it is perfectly okay for Christians to drink water during a spiritual fast.
Was Jesus literally in the wilderness?
The Bible does not give more details concerning the place Jesus was during his fast, as some only mention he went into the wilderness or the desert. The word wilderness or dessert was derived from the Greek word ‘eremos,’ which, when translated, means a place or location that is uninhabited or isolated.
From this, we can conclude that the place Jesus spent during his fast was not accessible by human beings or animals, making it private enough for him to spend the forty days and nights without any destruction.
How did Jesus survive 40 days in the wilderness without drinking water?
As mentioned earlier, most scholars have speculated that Jesus probably had access to water during the forty days and nights he was in the wilderness. There is no way he could have survived without water for this long since he was in a human body.
However, if we assume that he did not drink water in the wilderness, that could have only been possible because he was Jesus and God. Let us not forget that although he came in human form, Jesus had other spiritual powers and strength that no normal being has, and this would have made him probably survive the 40 days and nights without drinking any water. For Christians who choose to fast, let them remember the most important reason for their fasting.
References
Where did Jesus fast for 40 days?
Did Jesus also not drink water when he fasted 40 days in the wilderness?
Did Jesus drink water while fasting?
Is drinking water allowed during a Christian fast/
Did Jesus drink water when he was fasting for 40 days?
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
