Mark 15:23

KJV

And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received [it] not.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they gave {G1325} him {G846} to drink {G4095} wine {G3631} mingled with myrrh {G4669}: but {G1161} he received {G2983} it not {G3756}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and they gave him wine spiced with myrrh, but he didn't take it.

Berean Standard Bible

There they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it.

American Standard Version

And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 15:23 records a poignant moment during Jesus' crucifixion where, upon arrival at Golgotha, He is offered a pain-numbing drink of wine mingled with myrrh but consciously refuses it. This deliberate act underscores His unwavering resolve to face the full, unmitigated agony of the cross, fulfilling His mission with clarity of purpose and demonstrating His complete, voluntary sacrifice for humanity's redemption.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 15:23 is situated at the climax of Mark's passion narrative, immediately following Jesus' journey to Golgotha, "the place of a skull" ([Mark 15:22](/mark/15-22 "Mark 15:22 - Jesus Arrives at Golgotha")). This verse marks the transition from the procession to the actual crucifixion, setting the stage for the intense suffering that is about to unfold. The subsequent verses describe the soldiers casting lots for His garments ([Mark 15:24](/mark/15-24 "Mark 15:24 - Soldiers Divide Jesus' Garments")) and the actual nailing to the cross ([Mark 15:25](/mark/15-25 "Mark 15:25 - Jesus is Crucified")). Jesus' refusal of the drink highlights His active participation in His own sacrifice, rather than being a passive victim, thereby emphasizing the profound theological significance of His suffering.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Roman crucifixion was a brutal, prolonged method of execution designed to inflict maximum pain and public humiliation. It was a common practice, particularly for rebels and slaves, and the Romans perfected its horrific efficiency. Culturally, it was customary, particularly among Jewish women, to offer a narcotic drink to those condemned to crucifixion, intended to dull the pain and consciousness. This act of mercy is also alluded to in Proverbs, where "strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts" is advised ([Proverbs 31:6](/proverbs/31-6 "Proverbs 31:6 - Give Strong Drink to the Perishing")). Myrrh, a bitter gum resin, was known for its aromatic properties, its use in embalming, and significantly, its analgesic or stupefying effects when mixed with wine. Golgotha, located outside Jerusalem's city walls, was a public execution site, adding to the spectacle of Jesus' ordeal.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Mark's Gospel. Firstly, it emphasizes the theme of **Voluntary Suffering and Obedience**, showcasing Jesus' deliberate choice to endure the full measure of pain, thereby fulfilling His Father's will without compromise. This resonates with His earlier prayer in Gethsemane to "drink the cup" ([Mark 14:36](/mark/14-36 "Mark 14:36 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")), signifying His acceptance of divine suffering. Secondly, it highlights Jesus' **Identification with Humanity**, as His refusal to alleviate His pain demonstrates His complete solidarity with human suffering, making Him a compassionate High Priest who truly understands our weaknesses ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus Our Sympathetic High Priest")). Finally, it reinforces the theme of the **Suffering Messiah**, a central concept in Mark, where Jesus' path to glory is inextricably linked to suffering and self-sacrifice, contrasting with popular expectations of a conquering king.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **gave (Greek, _dídōmi'_):** This verb signifies "to give" in a very wide application, often implying a bestowal or delivery. Here, it describes the act of the Roman soldiers or perhaps compassionate Jewish women offering the drink. The giving is an act, but the significance lies in Jesus' response to it.
* **mingled with myrrh (Greek, _smyrnízō'_):** Derived from "Smyrna" (myrrh), this word means "to tincture with myrrh," specifically to "embitter" or make bitter, but in this context, it refers to the practice of adding myrrh to wine to create a narcotic or pain-dulling effect. The myrrh would have made the wine bitter to the taste, yet its purpose was to numb the senses.
* **received it not (Greek, _lambánō ou'_):** The verb _lambánō_ means "to take" or "to receive," often implying an active grasping or acceptance. Coupled with the absolute negative particle _ou_, "not," it conveys Jesus' emphatic and deliberate refusal. He did not passively decline; He actively chose *not* to take it, indicating a conscious and resolute decision to face His ordeal without artificial relief.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh":** This clause describes the offering made to Jesus. The "wine mingled with myrrh" was a common analgesic, a mixture intended to alleviate the excruciating pain of crucifixion by inducing a stupefying effect. This act, whether offered out of custom, mercy, or even as a means to hasten death, presented Jesus with a choice to mitigate His suffering.
* **"but he received [it] not":** This is the pivotal part of the verse. Jesus' deliberate refusal of the pain-numbing drink is highly significant. It demonstrates His conscious decision to endure the full, unmitigated physical and spiritual agony of the cross. This act highlights His clarity of mind, His unwavering purpose, and His determination to fulfill every aspect of His atoning sacrifice without any external assistance or relief from the suffering.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 15:23 employs several powerful literary devices. **Symbolism** is evident in the "wine mingled with myrrh," which represents an attempt to alleviate or escape suffering, contrasting sharply with the "cup" of divine wrath and suffering that Jesus willingly chose to drink ([John 18:11](/john/18-11 "John 18:11 - Jesus Accepts the Father's Cup")). The myrrh itself carries a dual **symbolic** weight, being both a painkiller and an embalming agent, subtly foreshadowing Jesus' death and burial. There is also a profound **Irony** in this scene: the world offers a temporary, superficial comfort to the one who is about to provide eternal, ultimate comfort and salvation through His unmitigated suffering. Jesus' refusal underscores His active role and intentionality, rather than passive endurance, making His sacrifice a deliberate act of will.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jesus' refusal of the pain-numbing drink in Mark 15:23 is a profound theological statement. It underscores the active and voluntary nature of His sacrifice, demonstrating that He was not merely a victim but an intentional participant in His own atoning death. By choosing to endure the full measure of physical and spiritual agony, Jesus perfectly identified with the depths of human suffering, validating His role as a compassionate High Priest who truly understands our weaknesses. His unmitigated suffering highlights the immense cost of sin and the immeasurable love that compelled Him to pay that price fully, without seeking any shortcut or relief. This act confirms His perfect obedience to the Father's will, even unto death, and ensures that His sacrifice was complete and sufficient for the redemption of all who believe.

* [Matthew 27:34](/matthew/27-34 "Matthew 27:34 - Gall Offered to Jesus")
* [John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - Jesus' Authority to Lay Down His Life")
* [Hebrews 5:8](/hebrews/5-8 "Jesus Learned Obedience Through Suffering")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 15:23 offers profound lessons for believers today, challenging us to re-evaluate our approach to suffering and discomfort. Jesus' deliberate refusal to numb His pain teaches us the importance of facing life's trials, difficulties, and even necessary discomforts with courage, clarity, and reliance on God, rather than constantly seeking to escape or dull the process. In a world that often prioritizes immediate gratification and pain avoidance, Jesus' example calls us to embrace the "cup" that God may allow in our lives, trusting that even in suffering, His purposes are being accomplished and our character is being refined. His unmitigated sacrifice should deepen our appreciation for the immense cost of our salvation and the boundless love that compelled Him to endure it fully for our sake. When we face our own "crosses"—whether physical pain, emotional distress, or spiritual struggles—we can draw strength from His example, knowing that He fully understands our pain because He experienced it completely, and He empowers us to endure with Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' refusal to numb His pain challenge my own tendency to avoid discomfort or seek immediate relief from suffering?**
* **What "cups" of suffering or difficulty might God be calling me to embrace rather than avoid, trusting in His greater purpose?**
* **How does understanding the unmitigated nature of Jesus' suffering deepen my appreciation for His sacrifice and my salvation?**
* **In what ways can I draw strength from Jesus' example when I face my own trials, knowing He fully understands my pain?**

### FAQ
**Why was wine mingled with myrrh offered to Jesus?**

Answer: It was a customary practice, particularly among Jewish women, to offer a narcotic drink to those condemned to crucifixion. This mixture, often wine infused with myrrh or other bitter herbs, was intended to act as an analgesic, dulling the excruciating pain and possibly hastening unconsciousness, thereby offering a form of mercy to the condemned. This tradition is also mentioned in [Matthew 27:34](/matthew/27-34 "Matthew 27:34 - Jesus Offered Gall"), where it is referred to as "wine mingled with gall."

**Why did Jesus refuse the drink?**

Answer: Jesus' refusal was a deliberate and profoundly significant act. By rejecting the pain-numbing wine, He chose to experience the full, unmitigated physical and spiritual agony of crucifixion. This decision underscored His perfect obedience to the Father's will and His determination to fulfill His atoning sacrifice with a clear mind and full consciousness. It demonstrated that His death was not a passive event but an active, voluntary, and intentional act of redemption, as He had the authority to lay down His life and take it up again ([John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - Jesus' Authority Over His Life")).

**What is myrrh and what was its significance?**

Answer: Myrrh (Greek: _smyrna_) is a bitter, aromatic gum resin obtained from certain trees. In ancient times, it was used for perfumes, incense, medicinal purposes (including as an analgesic), and significantly, in embalming. Its presence in the drink offered to Jesus carries a poignant duality: it was meant to dull the pain of His impending death, yet it was also a substance associated with burial, foreshadowing the very end of His earthly life and His subsequent entombment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 15:23, though brief, powerfully illuminates the Christ-centered nature of salvation. Jesus' deliberate refusal of the pain-numbing drink is not merely an act of stoicism, but a profound demonstration of His active and willing participation in His redemptive mission. By consciously choosing to endure the full, unmitigated agony of the cross, Jesus fully identified with humanity's fallen state and the depth of suffering required to atone for sin. This unreserved sacrifice fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of a suffering servant ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant")) and perfectly embodies the love of God, who "did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all" ([Romans 8:32](/romans/8-32 "Romans 8:32 - God Gave His Son")). His unhindered suffering ensures that His sacrifice was complete, sufficient, and utterly perfect, making Him the compassionate High Priest who can truly sympathize with our weaknesses because He experienced them without relief ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus Our Sympathetic High Priest")). Thus, His refusal of myrrh-laced wine underscores the totality of His substitutionary atonement, providing a foundation for our hope and assurance that through His complete suffering, we receive complete redemption and eternal life ([1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Jesus Bore Our Sins")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 27:34

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted [thereof], he would not drink.

John 19:28

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

John 19:30

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Luke 22:18

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

Luke 23:36

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

Mark 14:25

Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Matthew 26:19

And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.