Agon was a place in Greece where special games were held and the nature of the events were so gory that every competitor  shed his blood profusely before one was crowned Victor Ludorum (Overall Champion). This Greek word Agon is the root word for agony. 

Jesus Christ experienced agony - physically, mentally and spiritually on the cross before taking victory over satan to obtain salvation for mankind. The soldiers made Simon the Cyrene to carry the cross (Luke 23:26) to ensure that Jesus did not die of exhaustion on the way.  Cruel nails hammered into His hands and legs manifested the very height of physical agony. Death by crucifixion was a long drawn process and it often took more than two days for the victim to die. The motive to give vinegar was to  revive the crucified in order to prolong the agony. 

On the cross, sinless Jesus was mocked, ridiculed and shamed (Luke 23:36) by the hostile crowd  to cause mental agony. 

“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me” was His heart-cry that revealed the spiritual agony of a Son under much duress after being separated from His Father (Mark 15:34). 

Through all the agony, Jesus spoke seven gracious sentences - revealing personal injustice, needs of the suffering, grief of loved ones, a sense of abandonment, physical thirst, completion of a difficult task and death. He was totally in control of Himself even when pushed beyond the boundaries of human pain and suffering. 

Thought for the day:  

Only once did God choose a completely sinless preacher! -  Alexander Whyte