ANGUISH

​Anguish
 
Severe mental or physical pain or suffering.
Synonyms:  agony, pain, torment, torture, suffering distress, angst, misery, sorrow, grief, heartache, heartbreak…
 
I began to ponder about Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane and the word anguish came to my mind.  The description of this word echoes the depth of suffering Jesus the Christ endured.  Severe, mental, physical, pain, suffering!
 
As I began to list the synonyms the dark lines outlined by the noun description were colored in with the synonyms:  agony, pain, torment. Each word depicted the torrid and wicked series of attacks initiated by the order of leaders and through the work of soldiers, mobs and individuals.  These mental and physical attacks succinctly represent the worst of our human sin nature. 
 
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from.”  Isaiah 53 v 3.
 
Despised and rejected by men…people turned away from him.   He wasn’t celebrated anymore.  The cries of celebration and adoration were changed to cries of rejection and slander.  Quickly, the Triumphal Entry is changed to accusation and condemnation.
 
The irony was it appeared that Christ was the one on trial by man, but we, His creation, were already sentenced to death and Jesus the Christ took our place! Romans 8 v1 - v4.
 
“We in turn regarded Him stricken…But He was pierced because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him.” Isaiah 53 v 5.
 
What shall we say and do in response to this sacrifice for us?  It is Holy week and we are presented once again with a time to remember, acknowledge, pray, worship and be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Romans 12 v 2.