Matthew and Luke (both 4:2) relate that before Jesus’ preaching and healing activity he spent forty days fasting in the wilderness.<\/p>\n
After Jesus had begun touring, however, fasting was not a regular practice\u00a0in\u00a0Jesus’ experience.\u00a0In fact, the Pharisees and John’s disciples questioned\u00a0Jesus about his gluttonous behavior (Mt 9:14; Mk 2:18; Lk 5:33).<\/p>\n
At this point in the SpendaYearwithJesus story, Jesus is preparing to go to Jerusalem for the Fall Feasts. The religious authorities have rejected him. He has already\u00a0predicted his\u00a0demise, yet Jesus had “set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Lk 9:51).<\/p>\n
How should Jesus respond? How should he prepare?<\/p>\n
A period of prayer and fasting during the harvest month of Elul seems an\u00a0appropriate way to fill this gap in the record. If something like a fast occurred, however,\u00a0it was exceptional.<\/p>\n
What would Jesus pray? Like worshippers through centuries, the Psalms provide a basis for his prayers.<\/p>\n