And they were giving Him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but He did not accept it.
Wine mixed with myrrh could lessen pain or numb sensation. Christ refuses it, because He willed to bear the suffering allotted to Him in full awareness. He did not flee from pain and did not lighten the cup that, by the Father’s will, He had to drink to the end. This shows the perfection of His obedience. He accepted the price of humanity’s salvation in its full depth and did not reduce the weight of the sacrifice in any part. His love was complete; therefore He accepted to the end and bore the torments that came upon Him.