Christ came to give an example of obedience. In the 45 wilderness, after fasting forty days, He would not, even to obtain food, depart from the will of His Father. One of the temptations that overcame our first parents was the temptation to indulge appetite. By this long fast Christ was to show that appetite can be brought under control. Satan tempts men to indulgence, because this weakens the body and beclouds the mind. Then he knows that he can the more easily deceive and destroy them.

Kristus kom for at give et eksempel på lydighed. Efter at have fastet fyrretyve dage i ørkenen ville han end ikke for fødens skyld afvige fra sin Faders vilje. Det var fristelsen til at føje appetitten, som overvandt vore første forældre. Jesus skulle ved sin lange faste bevise, at appetitten kan bringes under kontrol. Djævelen frister menneskene på nydelsens område for derved at svække legemet og fordunkle sindet. Han ved, at det da vil være så meget lettere for ham at forføre og ødelægge dem.