Mark 15:23 Commentary: Jesus Refuses the Myrrhed Wine

The evangelist records that as Jesus arrived at Golgotha, soldiers (or possibly attendants) gave him wine mixed with myrrh. Myrrh was a resin used in burial and as a mild narcotic; when infused into wine it produced a bitter, stupefying effect. The Cambridge Bible, citing the Jewish scholar Lightfoot, notes this was a traditional mercy: wealthy women of Jerusalem would provide this potion to condemned men, based on Proverbs 31:6: “Give strong drink to him who is perishing.” The Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a) mentions a grain of frankincense in a cup of wine for those executed. Mark’s mention of myrrh rather than the gall of Matthew 27:34 likely reflects the same practice from a different source, the wine was sour, and the myrrh added both bitterness and narcotic effect. This moment sits within the larger crucifixion narrative: Jesus has just been scourged and mocked, Simon of Cyrene carries the cross, and the soldiers are about to crucify him. By refusing the drink, Jesus sets himself apart. He will accept only the vinegar offered at the ninth hour (John 19:30), which he receives to fulfill Scripture. His refusal here denies any artificial relief, mirroring his Gethsemane prayer to drink of the Father’s cup (Mark 14:36).

The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Mark 15:23. The reading ἐσμυρνισμένον (“mixed with myrrh”) is well attested. The parallel in Matthew 27:34 uses χολῆς (“gall”), which some manuscripts harmonize with Mark, but Mark’s text is stable.

Early church fathers (e.g., Origen) saw Jesus’ refusal as a conscious choice to drink the cup of the Father’s wrath, not a mere human relief. Medieval piety meditated on Jesus’ full awareness of suffering, seeing it as a model for martyrdom. During the Reformation, commentators like Matthew Henry emphasized Jesus’ voluntary suffering, he did not need “creature comforts” to sustain him. In modern tradition, this verse is read in Passion narratives and Good Friday liturgies; it underscores the severity of the cross and Jesus’ determination. Some hymns (e.g., “Ah, Holy Jesus”) allude to this moment without naming it directly, focusing on the contrast between human comfort offered and the Savior’s steadfast mission.

Three-point outline

1. Jesus refused sedation. The myrrhed wine was a merciful gesture to dull the pain, but Jesus would not take it. He chose to experience the crucifixion with full awareness, not escaping into unconsciousness.
2. Jesus exchanged one cup for another. In Gethsemane he asked to have the cup of suffering pass from him, but he accepted the Father’s will (Mark 14:36). The wine with myrrh was a lesser cup; the cross was the real cup he came to drink (Mark 10:38).
3. Jesus models how to suffer. He did not numb his pain or resent it. Instead, he entrusted himself to God, even to the point of the “Eloi, Eloi” cry. His refusal invites us to face our own trials with faith, not escape.

Five-point outline

1. The gesture was common mercy, restores a human moment in the passion.
2. The myrrh connects to death: myrrh was used in burial (John 19:39), foreshadowing his own.
3. His refusal shows full mental presence: he remained alert to cry out, to pray, and to commit his spirit.
4. Later, he accepts vinegar (John 19:30), not as a narcotic but as refreshment to finish the work.
5. The refusal fulfills his own words: “I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in God’s Kingdom” (Mark 14:25). The myrrhed wine would have been a premature taste; he waits for the new wine of the Kingdom.

Illustration hooks

• A patient with terminal illness chooses to stay off pain medication for a few hours to say a clear goodbye to family. Jesus chose this clarity for the sake of his mission.
• A soldier before a major operation refuses sedatives that might cloud his judgment. Jesus knew the enemy would not defeat him through unconsciousness.
• The way a firefighter enters a burning building knowing the risk, Jesus walked into death’s full heat without a mask.

Questions your congregation is asking

• If Jesus was God, could he truly feel pain? This verse shows he refused to dull it, so yes, his suffering was real.
• Why did he later accept vinegar from the soldiers? That was a different drink, sour wine to quench thirst, not a narcotic. He took it to fulfill Scripture (John 19:28).
• Does this mean Christians should never use pain relief? No. This was a unique moment in redemptive history. It is about Jesus’ willingness to suffer fully, not a rule for all suffering.

Mark 15:23 captures a small but profound moment: Jesus refuses a drink designed to ease his suffering. This act stands in tension with every human instinct to avoid pain. In your group, start by letting the verse sit, one person read it slowly, then sit in silence for 30 seconds. Let the reality of the scene sink in before you discuss.

Discussion questions

1. What do you notice about the verbs in this verse? Mark says “they offered” and “he did not take it.” Why might Mark describe the offer as an attempt rather than a completed act?
2. The Cambridge Bible says this was a merciful custom of the Jews. If it was mercy, why do you think Jesus refused it?
3. Read Proverbs 31:6. How does that Old Testament wisdom text connect to this moment? Does the offer feel more like compassion or cruelty given the context of the crucifixion?
4. How does Jesus’ refusal here relate to his prayer in Gethsemane (Mark 14:36)? What does it reveal about his understanding of his mission?
5. Jesus later receives vinegar (John 19:30). Why do you think he accepted that drink but not this one? What is the difference in purpose?
6. Christians sometimes face choices about suffering and relief, medical treatment, pain management, or facing a trial without escape. Does this verse guide those decisions, and if so, how?
7. What would it look like for you to “stay awake” with Jesus in a difficult situation, rather than seeking to numb or escape it? Where might God be asking you to trust him through full awareness?