Luke 12:50

“But I have a baptism to be baptized with, etc.] Not water baptism, for he had been baptized with that already; nor the baptism of the Spirit, which he had also received without measure; though the Ethiopic version reads it actively, “with which I shall baptize”, referring doubtless to that; but the baptism of his sufferings is meant, which are compared to a baptism, because of the largeness and abundance of them; he was as it were immersed, or plunged into them; and which almost all interpreters observe on the text, and by which they confess the true import and primary signification of the word used; as in baptism, performed by immersion, the person is plunged into water, is covered with it,…”

“But . . . a baptism, &c.--clearly, His own bloody baptism, first to take place. how . . . straitened--not, "how do I long for its accomplishment," as many understand it, thus making it but a repetition of Luk 12:49; but "what a pressure of spirit is upon Me." till it be accomplished--till it be over. Before a promiscuous audience, such obscure language was fit on a theme like this; but oh, what surges of mysterious emotion in the view of what was now so near at hand does it reveal!”

“A baptism - See the notes at Matthew 20:22. Am I straitened - How do I earnestly desire that it were passed! Since these sufferings “must” be endured, how anxious am I that the time should come! Such were the feelings of the Redeemer in view of his approaching dying hour. We may learn from this: That it is not improper to “feel deeply” at the prospect of dying. It is a sad, awful, terrible event; and it is impossible that we should look at it aright “without” feeling - scarcely without trembling. It is not improper to desire that the time should come, and that the day of our release should draw nigh, Philippians 1:23. To the Christian, death is but the entrance to life; and since the pains…”

“But I have a baptism to be baptized with - I must suffer first, before I can set up my kingdom. And how I long to fight my way through all! Luke 12:51”

“12:50 a terrible baptism of suffering: God’s judgment is often pictured as an overwhelming flood (Pss 18:4; 42:7; 69:1-2; Isa 8:7-8; 30:27-28; Jon 2:5).”

“I have: Mat 20:17-22; Mar 10:32-38 and: Psa 40:8; Joh 4:34, Joh 7:6-8, Joh 7:10, Joh 10:39-41, Joh 12:27, Joh 12:28, Joh 18:11, Joh 19:30; Act 20:22 straitened: or, pained Luke 12:51”