“Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.” (Mark 15:23)

“Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.” (Mark 15:23)

There is an old expression which states that all things come in threes. The same is true when it comes to Christ being offered the precious substance of Myrrh.

He was first presented with Myrrh after His Nativity by one of the Magi, or Wisemen, who came to pay respects to the New-born King (Matt. 2:11). The second instance occurs as the sinful woman pours it over Jesus’ head prior to His Passion (Matt. 26:6-13; Luke 7:37-50; John 12:1-8). And now, lastly, at His crucifixion he is offered, but refuses, Myrrh mixed with wine to drink which was used by the Romans as a type of sedative to help calm the condemned and deaden the pain of their horrific ordeal.

Fr. John