When Dr. Samuel Johnson was ill with his last illness, he asked if doctors would tell him honestly if he could recover. The doctor said that he could not recover without a miracle. “Then,” said Johnson, “I will take no more [medicine], not even opiates, for I have prayed that I may render up my soul to God unclouded.” When Jesus arrived at Golgotha, they gave him wine mingled with myrrh to drink. There was a company of pious and merciful women in Jerusalem who came to every crucifixion to give the criminals a drink of drugged wine to ease the terrible pain. They offered it to Jesus and he refused it. Jesus was resolved to taste death at its bitterest and to go to God with open eyes. He refused to meet death with his mental faculties clouded.
