115

Jesus, Tempted in the Desert

Scripture References

Thematically related:

Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Further Reflections on Confessions and Statements of Faith References

It is worth considering, when reflecting on the temptations of Christ, to bear in mind the testimony from Our World Belongs to God, paragraph 24, that Jesus “in his baptism and temptations, teaching and miracles, battles with demons and friendship with sinners…lived a full and righteous human life before us... He lovingly obeyed the Father and made present in deed and word the coming rule of God.”

115

Jesus, Tempted in the Desert

Call to Worship

God said, “This is my Son, with whom I am pleased.”
But this one has no splendor, no beauty we would fancy.
“This is my child, in whom I take delight.”
But this one carries the load of a servant,
not the scepter of a king.
“This is my child, whom I have called.”
But this one demands justice from all earth’s nations;
his words shall judge our own.
“This is my child, whom I uphold.”
But this one would release the dungeon’s prisoners;
he would set the captives free.
“This is my child, whose hand I hold.”
But this one is a man of sorrows; he is no stranger to grief.
“This is my child; I give him to you.”
Surely this child will bear our suffering on his shoulders
and carry our rejection in his heart.
Wounded for our transgressions,
he will be cut off from the land of the living.
Like sheep we have gone astray;
like a lamb he shall be led to the slaughter.
And still our God declares it:
“This is my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.
Listen to him.”
—based on Isaiah 53; Matthew 3:17; 17:5
— Worship Sourcebook Edition Two
God anointed Christ to console the afflicted.
Come, let us worship the Lord our Comforter!
God anointed Christ to emancipate the enslaved.
Come, let us worship the Lord our liberator!
God anointed Christ to bind up the wounded.
Come, let us worship the Lord our healer!
God anointed Christ to deliver the troubled.
Come, let us worship the Lord our Savior!
— Worship Sourcebook Edition Two

Confession

Most merciful God
whose Son, Jesus Christ, was tempted in every way, yet was without sin,
we confess before you our own sinfulness;
we have hungered after that which does not satisfy;
we have compromised with evil;
we have doubted your power to protect us.
Forgive our lack of faith; have mercy on our weakness.
Restore in us such trust and love that we may walk in your ways and delight in doing
your will. Amen.
[John Paarlberg in Reformed Worship 34:6]
— Worship Sourcebook Edition Two
115

Jesus, Tempted in the Desert

Tune Information

Name
GENEVA
Key
f minor
Meter
8.7.8.7 D
115

Jesus, Tempted in the Desert

Hymn Story/Background

The tune was composed in 1940 and named in honor of Geneva, New York, where the composer George Henry Day served as organist and choirmaster of Trinity Church [from 1935 until his death in 1966].
— United Methodist Hymnal Companion

Author Information

Herman G. Stuempfle Jr. (b. Clarion, Pennsylvania April 2, 1923; d. Gettysburg, Pensylvania, March 13, 2007) was educated at Susquehanna University (A.B., 1945), Lutheran Theological Seminary (B.D., 1946), Union Theological Seminary (S.T.M., 1967) and Southern California School of Theology at Claremont (Th. D., 1971). From 1947-1959, Rev. Stuempfle, served as pastor of parishes in Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1959, he joined the staff of the Board of Missions of the United Lutheran Church in America. Throughout his 27-year career as Professor of Preaching at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Rev. Stuempfle also served as the school’s Dean (1971-1976) and as President (1976-1989).

In 2004, Dr. Stuempfle was named a Fellow of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. His work is found in an ever-growing number of hymnals. GIA has published five collections of his hymn texts: The Word Goes Forth (1993); Redeeming the Time (1997); Awake Our Hearts To Praise (2000); Wondrous Love Has Called Us (2006); and The Song of Faith Unsilenced (2013), published posthumously. Dr. Stuempfle died on March 13, 2007 after a long battle with ALS. 
— GIA Publications, Inc. (http://www.giamusic.com)

Composer Information

George Henry Day (b. New York, NY, 1883; d. Geneva, NY, 1966) was a choir boy at Trinity Chapel, New York, and the organist/choirmaster at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Chelsea Square in 1911. Day prepared at New York University for a career in accounts and commercial law only to choose music instead. He graduated from the New York College of Music in 1913 and studied with G. Edward Stubs, Edward Shippen Barnes, and Orlando Mansfield. In 1923 he received his doctorate from Lincoln-Jefferson University. Day served as organist/choirmaster of Christ Church, Rochester, New York (1925-35), and at Trinity Church, Geneva, New York, from 1935 until his death. He was active in the American Guild of Organists, a director of the American Organ Player’s Club, and the composer of some 400 works.
— United Methodist Hymnal Companion

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