With desire I have desired - This is a Hebrew form of expression, and means “I have greatly desired.” The reasons why he desired this we may suppose to have been:
- That, as he was about to leave them, he was desirous once of seeing them together, and of partaking with them of one of the religious privileges of the Jewish dispensation. Jesus was “man” as well as God, and he never undervalued the religious rites of his country, or the blessings of social and religious contact; and there is no impropriety in supposing that even he might feel that his human nature might be prepared by the service of religion for his great and terrible sufferings.
- He doubtless wished to take an opportunity to prepare “them” for his sufferings, and to impress upon them more fully the certainty that he was about to leave them, that they might be prepared for it.
- We may also suppose that he particularly desired it that he might institute for “their” use, and for the edification of all Christians, the supper which is called by his name - “the Lord’s Supper.” All his sufferings were the expression of love to his people, and he was desirous of testifying “always” his regard for their comfort and welfare.
Before I suffer - Before I die.