Luke 12:50 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

This baptism, spoken of here by our Saviour, is the same mentioned Matthew 20:22,23, and can be understood of nothing but his passion, the accomplishment of which he hints us was to be before the fire (before mentioned) would blaze up on the earth. Concerning this he saith he was straitened till it was accomplished: not that he willed the influencing of the heart of Judas to betray him, the heart of Pilate to condemn him, or the hearts of the wicked Jews to accuse, condemn, and crucify him; but he willed these events, for the manifestation of the glory of his Father, in the redemption of the world by him. As the woman big with child heartily wishes that the hour of her travail were come and over, not for the pain's sake, which she must endure, but for her own ease sake, and the joy she should have of a child born into the world.