I gotta have my orange juice.

Here is a possible chiasm in Luke 22:31-62:

A (vv. 31-34): Peter’s denial foretold

B (vv. 35-36): Swords

C (vv. 37-38): Scripture fulfilled

D (v. 39) Jesus goes out (exerchomai) to the Mount of Olives; the disciples follow

E (v. 40): Pray that you may not enter into temptation

F (v. 41): Jesus withdraws, Jesus kneels

G (v. 42): Wrestling in prayer: remove the cup

H (v. 43): An angel strengthens Jesus

G’ (v. 44): Wrestling in prayer: sweating blood

F’ (v. 45): Jesus rises, disciples sleep

E’ (v. 46): Pray that you may not enter into temptation

D’ (v. 47): Judas leads (proerchomai) a crowd

C’ (v. 48): Prophecy of vv. 21-22 fulfilled

B’ (vv. 49-53): Swords

A’ (vv. 54-62): Peter’s denial

There are a couple things that don’t satisfy me about this. First, it does not connect the cup of vv. 17-20 with the cup of v. 42 (see here for a different outline that attempts to relate these). Of lesser importance, I would like to be able to connect the angel’s strengthening Jesus with his healing Malchus’s ear.

However, I am pleased with a few things that are brought out by this outline. First, I like the contrast this draws between Jesus and Judas and their followers. Second, cup and blood are related by this, thus echoing v. 20 even if it is not brought into the chiasm. Finally, the hinge of this chiasm is the angel’s strengthening Jesus. I think this is significant for a few reasons, about which I will write more later.