Yes, the Jews wanted to stone Jesus because His claim to be the 'I AM' (Jehovah) of the Old Testament was considered blasphemy.
In John 8, Jesus declared that Abraham rejoiced to see His day and then affirmed, 'Before Abraham was, I am.' The Jews immediately understood this as a claim to be the eternal God, the Jehovah who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. Because they rejected His claim, they considered it blasphemy and picked up stones to execute Him. Their attempt failed as Jesus hid Himself and left the temple.
John 8:58 — Jesus directly claims pre-existence and divinity with the phrase 'I am,' which the Jews understood as blasphemy and sought to stone Him.
In John 8:56, Jesus said, 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.' The Jews questioned Him, saying, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?' (John 8:57). Jesus then made the astonishing claim: 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am' (John 8:58). At this, they took up stones to cast at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple (John 8:59). This is the direct scriptural record of the event.
Les Feldick explains that the Jews were constantly testing Jesus, trying to corner Him into claiming to be God. In John 8, when Jesus said, 'Before Abraham was, I am,' He spoke in the first person, present tense, echoing the divine name revealed to Moses at the burning bush. The Jews understood this as a claim to be Jehovah, and to them, that was pure blasphemy—warranting death. Les emphasizes that the Jews wanted to hear Him say He was God so they could have every cause to put Him to death. Their rejection of Jesus' deity is the same mentality that led Saul of Tarsus to persecute Christians, thinking he was doing God a favor by stamping out the name of Jesus.
Jesus said, 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad' (John 8:56). The Jews responded, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?' (John 8:57). Jesus then claimed, 'Before Abraham was, I am' (John 8:58).
Les Feldick teaches that the Jews understood Jesus was claiming to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—Jehovah. In their minds, a mere man claiming to be God was pure blasphemy, and according to their law, the penalty for blasphemy was death by stoning. They were waiting for such a claim to justify killing Him.
Yes, the Bible records that they took up stones to cast at Him (John 8:59). However, Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, passing through the midst of them, avoiding their grasp.
Later, Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, declared he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. The Jews, understanding the implication that Jesus was seated and ready to return, cried out, stopped their ears, and stoned him. Les uses this as a parallel example of how the Jews reacted violently to any claim of Jesus' divine authority and imminent return.
Jesus Claims to Know the Father
Jesus asserts that the Jews do not truly know God, but He does, and that Abraham rejoiced to see His day, setting up His climactic 'I am' claim.
Jews Seeking Blasphemy
Les explains that the Jews were testing Jesus, hoping He would claim to be God, which they would consider blasphemy and used as grounds to kill Him.
Jewish Authority to Stone
Les explains that under Roman rule, Jews were allowed to handle their own religious matters, which is why they could stone their own people, as in Stephen's case.
Why the Resurrection Happens in Order — 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
Now you want to remember the major mentality of most Jews even today, is the same as Saul of Tarsus. They still think that Jesus was an imposter, and he was a blasphemer. They think that to do away with the name of Jesus from amongst Israel is doing their God a favor.
Jehovah as Jesus
Paul, formerly Saul, recognized Jesus as Jehovah of the Old Testament, which illustrates the Jewish understanding of Jesus' claim to deity.
Stephen's Stoning
Stephen's vision of Jesus standing at God's right hand triggered the Jews' anger, leading them to stone him—showing their violent reaction to claims of Jesus' divine role.
Jesus is the 'I AM'
Les reiterates that when Jesus said 'I am Jesus,' He was revealing Himself as the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the very God of Israel.
Why the Jews Called Jesus Accursed — 1 Corinthians 12:3 Explained
Accursed. What do you think Saul of Tarsus called Him in his days of intense persecution? That accursed person? How can you believe in something like that? And you may say, how can you be so blasphemous? No, I'm using Scripture, and I'll tell you why the Jews would say something like that. Turn with me now a minute to Acts chapter 5. This is interesting, and this is why I like to teach.
John 8:56: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Jesus claims Abraham saw His day, leading to the Jews' question about His age.
John 8:57: Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
The Jews question Jesus' statement, mocking His age.
John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Jesus' direct claim to pre-existence and deity, which the Jews saw as blasphemy.
John 8:59: Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
The immediate reaction of the Jews to Jesus' claim and His escape.
Exodus 3:14: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
The divine name 'I AM' which Jesus used for Himself, connecting to Jehovah of the Old Testament.
The Jews wanted to stone Jesus because He claimed to be the 'I AM'—Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. They considered this blasphemy, and according to their law, blasphemy was punishable by death.
Jesus was claiming eternal pre-existence and equality with God. By using 'I am,' He applied the divine name revealed to Moses, affirming His deity.
Yes, in John 8:58 Jesus said 'Before Abraham was, I am,' which is a direct claim to be the eternal God. The Jews understood this and reacted by taking up stones.
They believed He was a mere man making divine claims, which they saw as dishonoring God. Les Feldick notes that they expected the Messiah to be a human king, not God in the flesh.
According to Leviticus 24:16, the penalty was death by stoning, which is why they attempted to stone Jesus.
Watch the Teaching: Who Spoke from the Burning Bush? The Mystery of "I AM" Revealed