The Jews tried to stone Him because they knew EXACTLY what Jesus was claiming. They knew their scriptures, including:
Ex. 3:13-14 : 13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 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.’ ” What other reason could they have possibly had for immediately wanting to stone Him than for claiming to BE God?"
Very Good, FK!
"But wherefore said He not, "Before Abraham was, I was," instead of "I Am"? As the Father uses this expression, "I Am," so also does Christ; for it signifies continuous Being, irrespective of all time. On which account the expression seemed to them to be blasphemous. Now if they could not bear the comparison with Abraham, although this was but a trifling one, had He continually made Himself equal to the Father, would they ever have ceased casting stones at Him?" +John Chrysostom Homily 55 on the Gospel of John
Just stopping in for a second, but that's a great addition, thanks. Happy New Year! :)