Luke, speaking of the Savior suffering in Gethsemane, records, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly…” (22:44). It’s interesting here that it’s “an” agony – used as a noun. In a quick search for the etymology of the word “agony” I found the following in an illustrated etymology dictionary.
What contest could Luke 22 be referring to then? It’s description is found in the Savior’s prayer only a couple of verses earlier: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (vs. 42). The Lord describes this contest of wills to Joseph Smith almost 1800 years later saying “[This] suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might drink the bitter cup and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men” (D&C 19:18-19). Certainly there is suffering and pain in his description, but also an internal contest between His will and the will of the Father. He prevails by letting God’s will prevail.
President Nelson taught that "[O]ne of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is 'let God prevail.' Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life" ("Let God Prevail," GC Oct 2020). Israel is the name Jacob is given as a result of a great wrestling match also. In the 32nd chapter of Genesis we have the scant account. In verses 9-12 jacob pleads with the Lord to protect him from his brother's wrath. After preparing a gift for his brother, "Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day... And [the man] said, let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me... And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." (v. 24, 26, 28) Jacob wins like Jesus won in Gethsemane, by letting God prevail. Elder Maxwell taught about such a contest of will saying, "Consecration thus constitutes the only unconditional surrender which is also a total victory" ("Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father," GC Oct 1995).
We're all in that wrestling match too. As the Savior explained the purpose of the creation of the earth He said: "And we will prove [mankind] herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them" (Abraham 3:25). The singlet is a reminder to me of the team we're all all on, the very real contest we're in, how we can win, and Who showed us how.
I love how the Lord allows things that are important to me to point powerfully to Him!
