Throughout Jesus’ ministry, the Jewish leaders repeatedly sought to kill Him. Their hatred grew as He challenged their authority, exposed their hypocrisy, and declared Himself to be the Son of God. The Gospels record multiple instances where the religious leaders attempted to take His life, but each time, He either escaped supernaturally or because it was not yet His appointed time. This study will walk through these key passages, examining why they wanted Him dead, how He escaped, and what it reveals about God’s plan.
Early Attempts on Jesus’ Life
Luke 4:28-30 – The Rejection in Nazareth
The first recorded attempt to kill Jesus happened in His own hometown of Nazareth. After reading from Isaiah in the synagogue and declaring, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21), the people were filled with wrath.
“So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.” (Luke 4:28-30)
Why did they try to kill Him?
Jesus had just declared Himself as the fulfillment of prophecy, and He also rebuked their unbelief, pointing out that in the days of Elijah and Elisha, God showed mercy to Gentiles rather than Israel. This enraged them.
How did He escape?
The Bible simply says, “He went His way.” Whether this was supernatural or He simply walked through them unnoticed, the text does not explain, but it was clear they could not lay a hand on Him because His time had not yet come.
Conspiracies to Kill Jesus in Jerusalem
John 5:16-18 – Healing on the Sabbath
After healing the man at the Pool of Bethesda, Jesus commanded him to take up his bed and walk—on the Sabbath. This angered the Jewish leaders.
“For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’ Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5:16-18)
Why did they try to kill Him?
They accused Him of breaking the Sabbath and blasphemy—claiming equality with God.
How did He escape?
There is no record of an attempt to seize Him here, but their hatred intensified, leading to future plots.
John 7:30 – Attempt to Seize Him at the Feast
At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus openly taught in the temple, astonishing the people with His wisdom. The religious leaders were furious.
“Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.” (John 7:30)
Why did they try to kill Him?
He openly challenged them and claimed to be sent from the Father.
How did He escape?
No one could touch Him because His time had not come yet.
John 8:58-59 – “Before Abraham Was, I AM”
Jesus declared His eternal existence and deity by saying:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)
The Jews knew exactly what He meant—He was claiming to be Jehovah, the great “I AM” of Exodus 3:14. Their response was immediate.
“Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (John 8:59)
Why did they try to kill Him?
This was blasphemy in their eyes—a man claiming to be God.
How did He escape?
He hid Himself and passed through them unnoticed. Whether this was supernatural or providentially orchestrated, we do not know.
John 10:30-31 – “I and My Father Are One”
Jesus made another undeniable claim to deity:
“I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30)
“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.” (John 10:31)
Why did they try to kill Him?
Again, they accused Him of blasphemy, saying:
“For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” (John 10:33)
How did He escape?
The Bible says, “He escaped out of their hand” (John 10:39).
The Final Plot to Kill Jesus
John 11:47-53 – The High Priest’s Conspiracy
After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the Jewish leaders realized they could no longer allow Him to continue. His miracles were undeniable, and the people were believing in Him.
“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.'” (John 11:47-48)
Caiaphas, the high priest, made a prophetic statement:
“It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” (John 11:50)
From that moment, they planned to put Him to death.
Why did they want to kill Him?
The religious leaders were afraid of losing power, influence, and their position under Rome. They saw Jesus as a threat, not just religiously, but politically.
How did He escape?
Jesus withdrew to Ephraim (John 11:54) until it was the right time for Him to enter Jerusalem for the Passover—when He would lay down His life willingly.
The Appointed Time – Jesus’ Arrest and Crucifixion
Every time the Jews sought to kill Jesus, He escaped—until His hour had come. At His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus did not resist. When Peter tried to fight, He told him:
“Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)
Jesus was not taken by force—He laid down His life willingly.
“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.” (John 10:18)
At the cross, the religious leaders finally succeeded in having Him crucified—but it was all according to God’s plan of redemption.
My Final Thoughts
The Jewish leaders tried to kill Jesus many times, but they never succeeded until God’s perfect timing. Their motivations were clear: they accused Him of blasphemy, hated Him for exposing their hypocrisy, and feared losing their power. Yet, every time they tried, He either escaped miraculously, walked away untouched, or left the area.
Jesus was never a victim—He was in complete control the entire time. His death was not forced upon Him but was the fulfillment of prophecy, the ultimate act of redemption for the sins of the world. When His hour had come, He surrendered willingly, demonstrating that no one could take His life—He gave it for us.
