Suffering is not what Jesus teaches, but sacrifice is. We are called to "love our neighbor" and to "pick up our cross daily". We do this for the other and it is supposed to be selfless of us. The problem is that religiously we have made the act(s) more about ourselves than our fellow man. Take a read through Isaiah 58, God really is not impressed with a fast for spiritual reasons for the sake of the individual fasting. And yes, I am aware that the church has not been real good at conveying this but that's their bad.
There's no way the guy went without food and water completely for 30 days. He's just not biologically possible. And that's a fact. As others have mentioned you will die within a few days without water. How long you can go without food really depends on your genetics and other body factors. I don't have a problem with fasting. However people want to follow their religion is fine with me. But I think it's just silly to put yourself in danger, or to even die over it. That's taking it too far.
In 3 days the bodys internal organs will start shutting down including your kidneys. So this must be a partial fast of food only.
I wish he did a 'partial' fast where you eat something small and drink water to regain strength instead of trying to outdo Jesus! ...Some people {shaking my head}!
Many people put their lives in jeopardy when they decide to fast. It's a little overboard to fast for 40 days and nights. An alternative should be to give up something you really like for 40 days and nights.
Never saw it in that light, still I believe it depends on someone's genetics and willpower, there are people who can ace it and others can't...I guess every human being ought to know their limits.
Everyone knows you can't go without water for longer than 3 days. That was stupid for him to go without absolutely anything. He should have just done a food fast. Dehydration is serious.
There are different types of fasts, people still drink water because you need to otherwise you will die in a mater of days. Fasting can be either for health or religious reasons, but I think fasting for more than a day is never healthy as the body reacts and goes into emergency mode when it doesn't get food and water. I don't think they are good; I tried a brown rice fast once and it was boring and I didn't feel any better.
The reason behind the fast night make sense to the individual involved but even then, for religious or health reasons I don't see the point of suffering, and with a fast of this length that's what your going to be doing.
