John 8:53

If Jesus’ words had the power to prevent death, then Jesus must have been claiming to be greater than anyone who had died. The Jews’ question in the Greek text expects a negative answer. Certainly Jesus could not mean that He was greater than these men, could He? Ironically He was. They asked who Jesus was proudly claiming to be (cf. John 5:18; John 10:33; John 19:7). [Note: Morris, p. 416-17.] They missed the point that He had been stressing throughout this discourse and throughout His ministry, namely, that He did not exalt Himself at all. He simply did the deeds and said the words that His Father had given Him (John 8:28; John 8:38; John 8:42; John 8:50).

"Observe that this is more than asking, ’Who does he think he is?’ It is a case of what he is exalting himself to be." [Note: Beasley-Murray, p. 137.]

Jesus rarely asserted His deity. He did not promote Himself. Instead He chose to live a godly life before people and let them draw their own conclusions as God gave them understanding (cf. Matthew 16:13-17). Yet He wanted people to believe in Him.