Originally published at crisis magazine
In looking over the synoptic accounts of Jesus going off to the desert to do battle with Satan and the temptations that await Him, one sees that there is complete agreement among the three Evangelists concerning both the length of His struggle and what exactly He was doing before and after. Forty days is the figure they each report; and all agree that on one side there was a baptism to be performed, while on the other there will be a public ministry to begin.
But it is that long stretch in between that arrests the attention. It is the perfect theme, by the way, for the long Lenten slog that looms before us. And certainly, by any human measure, forty days is a very long time indeed. Yes, even if you are the Son of God. There can be no question, therefore, but that Jesus is going to be hungry. Very hungry. And not too long after stepping into the desert, too, despite the divine Spirit prompting Him to go there.
Isn’t that the whole point of Temptation Number One? That it should all turn on Jesus’ obvious need to eat. “If you are the Son of God,” says
