Luke 12:50 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

NIV: But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!

NASB: But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

CSB: But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished!

NLT: I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.

KJV: But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

NKJV: But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

Jesus wants His disciples to reject the pleasures, trappings, and even life in this world. Peter wants to make sure they receive more honor than anyone else. Jesus knows the disciples don't know what will have to happen to get there (Luke 12:1–49). The disciples still think Jesus has come to overthrow the Roman occupiers and become king of a new, independent Israel. They believe they will sit at Jesus' court and advise His decisions. They anticipate power over their fellow Jews (Mark 10:37).

Jesus has told them to watch for God's kingdom—and all their expectations will be fulfilled in that kingdom—but much needs to happen first. Jesus will cast the fires of judgment on the earth. He is talking about the end times period known as the "tribulation." Although fire is mentioned several times in the context of the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments (Revelation 6:1; 8:1–2; 16:1), Jesus most likely means the battle of Armageddon when the Antichrist and Satan will be defeated (Revelation 16:16). Their forces will be destroyed, and Jesus will inaugurate the millennial kingdom. Only then will the disciples receive their thrones and their authority to judge Israel (Matthew 19:28).

Then, they will find that not everyone made it. They will discover that some of their family members did not trust in Jesus for their salvation. When Jesus separates the Antichrist's forces, He separates all unbelievers (Luke 12:51–53).

Most distressing for Jesus, His most difficult trial stands in front of Him: the crucifixion. His "baptism" is His death (Romans 6:3). He will be beaten and crucified. He will carry the sin of the world and the wrath of God. The night before, He will be in such agony as He anticipates this torture that He will sweat drops like blood (Luke 22:44). The disciples want their thrones; they have no idea it will cost Jesus His life and themselves some of their family.

Luke 12:49–53 expresses Jesus' frustration that the disciples still miss His point. They need to value and anticipate the kingdom of God, not earthly respect, riches, survival, or honor (Luke 12:1–48). To follow Jesus, they will even need to be willing to sacrifice family relationships. Next, Jesus tells the crowd they should notice that change is coming; they need to repent to each other and to God to be ready (Luke 12:54—13:9). Matthew 10:34–37 records a similar warning.

Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes. Christians are to remain ready for Christ's return, even as faith separates those who believe from those who do not. These ideas revolve around the central theme of verse 34: that a person's heart reflects what they value most.

Luke 12:1—13:9 compares the world with the kingdom of God. Jesus has condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke 11:14–54). He now instructs His disciples to reject the fame and security that Pharisees crave, and hold lightly to their lives, wealth, security, and even family. He then warns the crowd to be wise about their relationships with other people and with God. The next two units each include a miracle and teaching on God's kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—15:32). Then the final section in the "travelogue" repeats that three-unit pattern (Luke 16:1—19:27) before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.