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.

examples apparently flow from Luke’s desire to picture Jesus as the Servant of YHWH. It may be that the hostile action of the Jewish audience at Nazareth, leading Jesus to the brow of the hill in order to throw him off (Luke 4,29), should be included here since it stands in the programmatic passage which probably portrays Jesus as Servant of YHWH and so would be a foreshadowing of his passion.

4. Luke 22,24-27

        What we have said thus far about Luke’s passion story leads us to ask whether Luke 22,24-27 (cf. 9,45; Mark 10,42-45) should be considered part of Luke’s portrayal of Jesus as the Servant of YHWH. Of the Synoptics, only Luke has introduced into the Last Supper scene the argument over who of the disciples is the greatest. Although we find no verbal connection between Jesus’ response to this argument and Acts 8,32-33, Luke probably viewed the two description as similar. In Luke 22,24-27 Jesus warns against being like the kings of the Gentiles who lord it over their subjects and make their power felt and who like being called benefactors. This is not to be the conduct of the Christian disciple; for the older among them should act as the younger, and the leader as the servant. In fact, diakonw=n, ‘serving’, occurs three time in these verses; and is developed by the reflection that it is true that the one who reclines at table is greater than the one who serves, but Jesus is among them as the one who serves. Jesus’ humility and attitude of service resemble the thought of Acts 8,32-33, his being led as a sheep to the slaughter, a lamb to be sheared, silent and not opening his mouth, humble; yet there is no fair trial nor will he be remembered in history. The possible resemblance between Luke 22,24-27 and Acts 8,32-33 finds further support in the context of the former, the Last Supper scene; more specifically, these verses stand between two statements about Jesus’ suffering and are preceded by the woe for him by whom Jesus is betrayed (paradi/dotai) (cf. Luke 22,21-23.28). So, Jesus’ service includes his suffering. We also read in the context, ‘This is my body given (dido/menon) for you’ and of the cup ‘poured out (e)kxunno/menon) for you’ (cf. Luke 22,19-20). These words likewise look to Jesus’ passion and would describe Jesus’ service. To be sure, the evidence is not strong; but it appears that by inserting the argument about who is greatest, Luke has introduced into his Last Supper scene a reflection similar to that found in Acts 8,32-33; and in this sense, Luke 22,24-27 would belong to Luke’s portrayal of Jesus as Servant of YHWH. On the other hand, we note here, too, that, although Luke has