Robert F. O'Toole, «How Does Luke Portray Jesus as Servant of YHWH», Vol. 81 (2000) 328-346

This article explains Luke's meaning of Jesus as Servant of YHWH and claims this title as part of Luke's christology. Many references to Jesus as Servant of YHWH are unique to Luke, and a few summarize Jesus' ministry. These summary passages particularly look to Jesus' saving activity, universal mission and suffering. Other Servant of YHWH passages point out that Jesus is specially chosen and pleasing to God and determined to do his will. In particular, Acts 8,32-33 summarize Jesus' passion during which Luke views Jesus as the Servant and thus humble, innocent and silent. As the Servant Jesus is also risen and active.

This was the passage of Scripture he was reading: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, like a lamb before its shearer he was silent and opened not his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who will ever speak of his posterity, for his life was taken from earth’⁸.

        The Ethiopian eunuch is reading this passage and asks Philip about whom the prophet was speaking; beginning with this passage, Philip proclaims to him Jesus. We find in Acts 8,32-33 clear references to Jesus’ passion, ‘As a sheep led to the slaughter’, unjust trial and ‘his life was taken from the earth’. Moreover, since Luke elsewhere calls Jesus pai=j (Acts 3,13.26; 4,27.30) and, as we shall see, elsewhere makes other references to Isa 52,13-53,12, it is reasonable to conclude that in citing vv. 7-8 of this chapter he wanted to identify Jesus as the Servant who carried out the mission assigned to him. The citation of the scripture passage locates these happenings within God’s providence and also comments on Jesus’ comportment during the passion; he is meek and humble and does not speak. Nevertheless, he still did not get a fair trial, nor was there any reason to think that someone would care enough to record his memory.

This understanding of Acts 8,32-33 as bearing on Jesus’ passion is confirmed by one of the passion predictions and by four Servant of YHWH references which occur during Luke’s passion narrative. The third passion prediction, Luke 18,32-33b, in the Greek reads:

paradoqh/setai ga_r toi=j e!qnesin kai_ e)mpaixqh/setai kai_ u(brisqh/setai kai_ e)mptusqh/setai kai_ mastigw/santej a)poktenou=sin au)to/n

He will be delivered up to the Gentiles. He will be mocked and outraged and spat upon. They will scourge him and put him to death,

to_n nw=to/n mou de/dwka ei)j ma/stigaj ... to_ de_ pro/swpo/n mou ou)k a)pe/streya a)po_ ai)sxu/nhj e)mptusma/twn

I gave my back to the scourging ... and I did not turn my face from the shame of the spittle,

le/gw ga_r u(mi=n o#ti tou=to to_ gegramme/non dei= telesqh=nai e)n e)moi/, to_ Kai_ meta_ a)no/mwn e)logi/sqh: kai_ ga_r to_ peri_ e)mou= te/loj e!xei