LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – A Mozambican Pastor has reportedly lost his life after attempting to fast for 40 days like Jesus was said to have done after his baptism.
Francisco Barajah, who founded the Santa Trindade Evangelical Church in Manica, Mozambique, was confirmed dead on 15 February.
BBC reports that the Mozambican man of God could observe only 25 days out of the forty he had planned for, as he was unable to stand, bathe, or walk at the time.
He was reportedly receiving treatment at a hospital in the city of Beira, before he was pronounced dead.
The doctors were said to have tried their best to save the Pastor but the damage to his health was beyond any medical solution.
According to the Gospels, of Matthew and Luke, Jesus fasted for 40 days and was tempted by Satan. Both accounts describe Jesus’ hunger but neither stated if he consumed water.
Reports of Barajah’s attempt to recreate the fast indicates that he was foregoing water as well as food.
The pastor, who also worked as a French school teacher, was said to have developed “severe anemia” and had internal organ damage, and was unable to digest food.
His followers were said to be unsurprised by the news of his death after seeing his extreme weight loss.