Several times during the narrative provided by the Gospel of John the Jews attempt to kill the Lord Jesus Christ.
For example:
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17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” 18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. NASB
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58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. NASB
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30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. NASB
I see two possibilities here:
- First possibility
Objectively, the Lord Jesus Christ makes a factual statement.
Jesus says, "I am X."
The Jews properly understand that factual statement.
The Jews say, "Jesus says that he is X."
However, the Jews disbelieve that factual statement.
The Jews say, "Although Jesus says that he is X, we do not believe that Jesus is X."
The Jews accuse Jesus of blasphemy because they believe Jesus said that he is X when he is not, and a claim to be X when someone is not is blasphemous.
The Jews say, "Jesus says that he is X, but we do not believe Jesus is X. If someone says they are X when they are not, it is blasphemy. Therefore, Jesus has committed blasphemy."
Consequently, the Jews attempt to kill Jesus for committing blasphemy.
- Second possibility
Objectively, the Lord Jesus Christ makes a factual statement.
Jesus says, "I am X." (Jesus is indeed X.)
The Jews misunderstand that factual statement.
The Jews say, "Jesus says that he is Y." (Jesus actually said that he was X.)
The Jews disbelieve what they have misunderstood (although they are not aware that they have misunderstood).
The Jews say, "Although Jesus says that he is Y, we do not believe that Jesus is Y."
The Jews accuse Jesus of blasphemy because they (supposedly) heard Jesus say that he is Y, but they do not believe Jesus is Y. A claim to be Y when someone is not Y is blasphemous.
The Jews say, "Jesus says that he is Y, but we do not believe Jesus is Y. If someone says they are Y when they are not, it is blasphemy. Therefore, Jesus has committed blasphemy."
Consequently, the Jews attempt to kill Jesus for committing blasphemy.
I suppose there could be other possibilities. That being said, which of the two possibilities explains the Jews' reaction to Jesus' statements? Did they want to kill him because they disbelieved his statements or because they misunderstood his statements? If neither, then what is the reason for their attempt to kill him?