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.

Also, Luke’s use of ‘light’ for salvation very likely depends on the Servant of YHWH tradition, and this tradition likewise provided him with his best argument for Jesus’ universal mission.

        Other Lukan passages use Servant-of-YHWH terminology to bring out given characteristics of Jesus. He, as Servant, is specially chosen and pleasing to God and determined to do God’s will as is revealed by his setting his face firmly for Jerusalem; probably he, as Servant, is the stronger warrior who carries off the plunder of his opponents.

        For Luke Acts 8,32-33 provide a summary of Jesus’ passion. Obviously, as a citation, the passage underlines that these events somehow fit into God’s providence. It is true that during the passion Luke also names Jesus the Christ, King and Son of God; but, granted that the Christ must suffer, none of these designations serves to provide a broad summary of Jesus’ passion. Nor is it sufficient to assign Luke’s passion story to the genre of the martyrdom of a just man. Rather Luke is more specific and presents Jesus as the Servant of YHWH who is humble and silent, but who is still deprived of a fair trial and will not even be remembered. Gentiles, Jews, king and procurator unite against him; he is handed over and led before both Jewish and Roman authorities. However, the fact is that, as the theme of Servant of YHWH confirms, he is innocent. Probably, dido/menon in Luke 22,19 should be taken in the sense of handed over, but Jesus’ willingness to follow his Father’s will is clearly present in the context. The correct interpretation of what is said about Jesus as ‘the one who serves’ in Luke 22,24-27 is not easy to establish. However, given the correspondence of these verses to their immediate context and their similarity to the thought of Acts 8,32-33, it is reasonable to conclude that they identify Jesus’ passion as ‘service’ and constitute part of the Lukan portrayal of Jesus as the Servant of YHWH.

        The portrayal of Jesus as Servant of YHWH likewise relates to his resurrection because God glorifies his servant; and probably the words of Acts 8,33, o#ti ai!retai a)po_ th=j gh=j h( zwh_ au)tou, are a reference to the resurrection. Surely, as the Servant of YHWH, Jesus remains active after his resurrection; for he blesses the Jews in turning each of them from their evil, and the persecuted Christians pray that God work signs and wonders for them through the name of his holy servant. Through his followers he also carries on his mission.

        If one asks what specifically Luke achieves through his presentation of Jesus as the Servant of YHWH, the followings points should be noted. This presentation does belong to Luke’s christology