When I read this today, I was surprised. I checked my Strong's Concordance to ensure the accuracy of the statement and, sure enough, there on page 28 in the concordance, listed only once, was agony.
The Greek word for agony is agonia meaning a struggle (properly in Greek, the state of being in a struggle) or figuratively anguish or agony. Agonia derives from agon which means conflict, effort or contention.
It seems obvious that this word is more than just "agony" in the English meaning - it is a struggle filled with anguish and conflict and contention.
So where is it that this one word appears in the Bible? It appears in Luke 22:44, but let's look at the entire passage to get the full story behind this one scripture and allow me to set up the scene.
Jesus has just shared the last supper with the twelve disciples and has told the disciples one of them will betray him. Now, after the meal has ended, Jesus, with His disciples following, goes to the garden to pray. Here are the scriptural passages that follow:
Luke 22:41-44
And Jesus was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw and kneeled down and prayed, saying,
"Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
My study Bible adds this note:
Jesus is borne up in His hour of greatest need, when He must intercede not only for Himself but for His followers, who are about to leave Him in the lurch. Agony appears only here in the New Testament: it points to the intensity of Jesus' struggle. Surely Jesus wrestles, not so much with death itself, but with His own destiny to be made the sin-bearer for all mankind for all the ages. The punishment that had to be borne for our sins brings Jesus to His knees in anguish.
Jesus knew His destiny and knew what was coming and He struggled in agony and anguish over it. He even prays for the "removal of this cup" from his path, but then adds "not my will, but thine, be done." As many times as I have read this passage, today is the first time that I understand the agony of Jesus in this moment.
This week I have struggled with a personal issue - one that has born anger and hatred within me for more than a decade. Today, a particular event brought that anger and hatred to a head and I found myself weeping with complete and utter frustration. I am helpless in these circumstances and so I must surrender to them, but my heart resists with clenched fists.
In my frustration I turned to my husband, my mother and my Bible for comfort. I was blessed by the conversations with my husband and mother and then further blessed by my Bible in coming into this knowledge today regarding agony.
The Lord knows my struggle (He knows yours too) and has offered me comfort in showing me more clearly the agony of His own struggle as He walked to the cross on my (and your) behalf. I am truly humbled.
I've wiped away my tears and I'm wiping away my anger and hatred one small swipe at a time. It's a process - I get that - one that I have agreed to and one that I am surrendering to one unclenched finger at a time.
