This is a very interesting exchange between Jesus and the Jewish opposition. There is an intriguing nuance in their defense of their position that he deserves death. I see a double basis for their fierce ire, and it is not, according to them, any good works that he has performed.
That is already a concession they are making to Jesus. They admit that he has performed good works, at least they do so tacitly. But then they state their case against him. First, there is the matter of blasphemy—the act of speaking sacrilege and contempt against God. It seems that they consider his claims sacrilegious. I am not sure they know the basis for their discomfort, but his claims certainly do not sound orthodox to them.
But then there is a second reason that is very specific and is not a simple and non-descript matter of blasphemy. This is specific. They accuse him of making himself to be God—or clearer still, one with God. To this obvious violation they add that his behavior is made even more heinous by the fact that he I just a common man—at least not a man of any significant stature in their eyes.
His words are in violation of their concept of sacred and his claims to be one with God are inconsistent with what they believe to be true based on their understanding of Scripture. I have to ask—Is this simply a matter of perception? Do they seek to kill him because of what they perceive to be theological error? Is theological disagreement the basis for breaking fellowship and labeling someone else as unfit to live (or unfit for heaven)? I can see why their fervor leads them here, but I question whether their fervor is misplaced. If theological and doctrinal purity is the basis for distinguishing between the faithful and the lost—between the sheep and the goats, then who will be saved? It will be a spiritual IQ test. That is not in harmony with the tenor of Scripture. Read John 5:39.
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