With Longing

We often talk about the Savior’s love for us. We cite the Atonement and His healing of the people as examples of that love, which they certainly are. But there are many other, more subtle, evidences of the Savior’s love for us.

One of them occurs as the Last Supper begins. Luke tells us that at that time the Savior said to the disciples, “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). Both the NIV and NRSV of the Bible translate that verse as, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;" The Greek word translated as “desire” in the KJV and as “eagerly” in the NIV and NRSV could also have been translated “with longing.” By looking at these various translations and the Greek synonym we get a better feel for the intensity of Jesus’ statement. Jesus REALLY wants to be with them. He wants their company. Of course He desires to with them so He can teach them, but it is more than that. He “longs” to be with them and to eat this Passover with them because He enjoys being with them. This tells us a lot about His love for them and for us.

Just as Jesus desired to be with the disciples, He desires to be with us. He wants us to return to Him. He wants to be able to sit down to supper with us and mingle with us. He wants our company because He loves us. The question then is whether we, with the same intensity, eagerly desire to sit down to supper with Him.