Jesus spoke plainly about the identity of the Jews who were seeking to murder Him. He said, “Ye are of your father the devil”. – John 8:44; and you are seriously inclined to fulfil the lusts (desires) of your father.

They sought to take Him: but no man laid hands on Him, because His hour was not yet come. – John 7:30. Attempt #1 - failure. He said, “I have a little more time here”. – John 7:33. That was an extension of the challenge that he posed to them earlier. And some of them would have taken Him; but no man laid hands on Him. – John 7:43. Attempt #2 - failure. The Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. – John 7:32. But the officers came empty-handed. No man laid hands on Him; for His hour was not yet come. – John 8:20. Attempt #3 – failure! He was posing the challenge again. He said, “I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: - John 9:4. They sought again to take Him: but He escaped out of their hand. – John 10:39. Attempt #4 – failure. All these attempts to arrest Him happened back to back, but Satan failed every time.

There were also several close encounters to murder Him. The Jews sought to kill Him. – John 7:1.

First, when He revealed Himself to His own people in His hometown Nazareth, as the Anointed One mentioned in the Book of Isiah the Prophet, the Jews rose up, and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong. But He, passing through the midst of them went His way, - Luke 4:29, 30.

Second, when He revealed to the Jews as the “I am”, the Jews took up stones to cast at Him. – John 8:59. But Jesus hid Himself and going through the midst of them, passed by.

Third, when Jesus spoke of He being one with the Father – I and my Father are one, then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. – John 10:30, 31.