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.
words of this citation of Acts 13,47 played a part in the description of the mission in the programmatic Acts 1,8. Luke returns to the theme of light but also asserts that Jesus must suffer in Acts 26,23 (cf v. 18) where he quotes Paul as proclaiming:
ei) paqhto_j o( Xristo/j, ei) prw=toj e)c a)nasta/sewj nekrw=n fw=j me/llei katagge/llein tw|= te law|= kai_ toi=j e!qnesin
that the Christ must suffer, and that first to rise from the dead he must proclaim light to the people and to the Gentiles.
Thus, according to Luke, Jesus through Paul (cf v. 18) actualizes the mission of the Servant of YHWH who brings salvation, light, to the people and to the Gentiles, but will be rejected and must suffer. In this way, Luke can justify Jesus Gentile mission and his passion, yet contend that this mission is universal, for both Gentiles and Jews.
Elsewhere, I have indicated why a number of scholars contend that Luke is also presenting Jesus as the Servant of YHWH in Luke 4,18-19 (cf. vv. 16-30)21. The main arguments for this contention are: (1) the citations in these verses are taken from Isaiah (61,1-2 and 58,6); and the phrase, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me is quite similar to that found in the first Servant Hymn (Isa 42,1: e!dwka to_ pneu=ma/ mou e)p' au)to/n, I put my spirit on him), and the ideas of Isa 42,7 (cf 49,9):
a)noi=cai o)fqalmou_j tuflw=n e)cagagei=n e)k desmw=n dedeme/nouj kai_ e)c oi!kou fulakh=j kaqhme/nouj e)n sko/tei
To open the eyes of the blind, to lead prisoners from the dungeons and from the prison those who sit in darkness
resembles those of Luke 4,18; (2) Luke 2,25-35 constitutes a parallel to 4,16-30 and both passages speak of the salvation (light in 2,32 corresponds well with sight to the blind in 4,19) which Jesus will bring, but we have demonstrated that the former passage describes Jesus mission like that of the Servant; (3) Jesus baptism (3,21-22) likewise constitutes a parallel to 4,18-1922, and the phrase, e)n soi_ eu)do/khsa, in you I was well-pleased, is a reference to the servant; cf. Isa 42,1: