Pain killers, narcotics, and Christ

[Camillus718]

I’m researching the ethics of painkillers and specifically narcotics.
I wanted to bring into consideration Christ’s actions during His Passion. The Ignatius Study Bible says that when the Bible says gall, it is a

A mixture of herbs and myrrh used as a narcotic (cf. Mark 15:23). Jesus’ refusal of painkillers signifies his total acceptance of the Father’s will and the extent of his sacrificial love

There seems to be two times that Jesus is offered something to drink. First, BEFORE he is placed on the cross, and the second AFTER he is placed on the cross. Here is a cross reference for your convenience:

Matthew 27:34:
BEFORE “And when they came to a pace called Golgatha (which means place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.”
…(Ref: Gall: A mixture of herbs and myrrh used as a narcotic (cf. Mark 15:23). Jesus’ refusal of painkillers signifies his total acceptance of the Father’s will and the extent of his sacrificial love (Cf. Jn 10:17-18; Rom 5:8)

Matthew 27:47:
AFTER “And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.”

Mark 15:23:
BEFORE: “And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.”
…(A narcotic painkiller. Jesus refuses it, choosing instead to bear the full weight of suffering for man’s sin. 10:45; 1 Peter 2:24)

Mark 15:35:
AFTER “And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” And one ran and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”

Luke 23:36:
AFTER: “The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

John 1928:
AFTER: “After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.)

Some observations:
AFTER he was raised on the cross, it is always “vinegar” that is offered. Also, he doesn’t refuse it, and in John is received.
BEFORE he was raised, however, he denied it. The Ignatius bible commentary echoes what I’ve always been taught, which is that Jesus denied painkillers. What implications does this have on us, who are supposed to accept our crosses as Christ did? Specifically, on ordinary narcotics that we get after surgeries and things, for the sake of pain (not for recreation). Any thoughts or leads would be appreciated!

 

[grandfather]

Physicians have always prescribed medicines to relieve pain from available sources. You seem to be saying attempting to relieve the pains of the suffering is immoral, because Jesus refused a pain killer on the cross.

Jesus entrusted the Church with teaching the nations spiritual truths concerning faith and morals and guarantees her teaching until the end of time. If the use of pain killers is immoral the Church would have recognized it and taught that to protect the faithful.

Alcohol also dulls pain. Jesus drank wine.

What the Church does teach is temperance is a virtue. Temperance is not abstinance, or a ban on using drugs and alcohol, but it defines proper use. Narcotics or alcohol can be properly used, but they are dangerous, because they can lead to addiction, which would be a sin against temperance.

 

[Camillus718]

You seem to be saying attempting to relieve the pains of the suffering is immoral, because Jesus refused a pain killer on the cross.

I was thinking more along the lines of “better”. Is it “better” to deny painkillers than to accept, because that is what Jesus did?
Something like in the catechism, where have the “good” and “better” comparison.

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If we wanted to live “better,” should we be avoiding narcotics?