“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1-2)

There are no wasted words in the Holy Scripture. Every word has value to teach something, to correct or rebuke, to train one to be righteous and equipped for the Lord’s good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Knowing this, though, one wonders, “Was it really necessary to state that Jesus was hungry?”

If you find fasting to be almost unbearable, remember that Jesus was hungry, and He invites you to draw near and find grace.

For forty days and nights, Jesus had not eaten anything (Luke 4:2). Of course He was hungry. When we miss a single meal, we are hungry. Why does Matthew point out the obvious? It is to remind us that, as the Incarnation, the Word made flesh, our Lord was a true man, a real man, one hundred percent man.

Just think about that for a moment. Have you ever been hungry? Are you hungry right now? You have a Savior who understands what you are experiencing, who feels what you are feeling. He sympathizes with you. He not only sympathizes; He has everything you need.

If you find fasting to be almost unbearable, remember that Jesus was hungry, and He invites you to draw near and find grace.

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).