Last week the sermon text was the feeding of the 5000. Especially as John recounted the events, it is clear what Jesus is NOT. He is not a bread-king, one sent to relieve all the sufferings that are in the world because of sin. Think about it, providing some sort of guaranteed subsistence to a humanity headed for damnation would be like offering a ham sandwich to someone who is drowning. Jesus didn’t come to save us in this world, or bring a heaven to earth. He came to save us from this world, and give us a new heaven and a new earth.
While last week we learned what Jesus is not, this week the emphasis is upon who Jesus really is. His enemies are verbally sparring with Him over the claims Jesus is making. He declared, “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” They responded with outrage, “Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Jesus then makes one of the clearest and most unequivocal statements that He could have made. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “Before Abraham was born, I am!”
This was especially so because of the way that God had identified Himself to Moses for all time. (Exodus 3:14) God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Jesus’ miracles were not done to promise a heavenly kingdom on earth. Jesus’ miracles were to show that the kingdom of God had come, invading earth and conquering the kingdom of the devil. God Himself, the eternal second person of the Trinity had invaded, taking up humanity, living under the law, and conquering death. So He snatches us from the grip of this world and its coming destruction and makes us part of His eternal kingdom – a new heaven and a new earth.