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Stung by what he had said, the Jews leveled at Jesus the linked and perhaps equivalent accusations of being a Samaritan (cf. 4:9) and being demon possessed (cf. 7:20; 10:20). His reply (vv.49-51) did nothing to reassure them.
The promise that disciples (cf. 8:31-32) would never see death referred to spiritual death (cf. 11:26) and was a restatement of the theme of life (cf., e.g., 3:16). But with crass literalness they misunderstood him to be speaking of physical death and responded scornfully, reiterating the charge of demon possession (vv.52-53).
The claim that Abraham had foreseen the day of Christ would not have offended current Jewish teaching. But Jesus claimed that Abraham had foreseen my day (v.56), and this left the literal-minded Jews incredulous (v.57). His further claim, which implies preexistence, is not outrageous for the one who is the incarnate Word (cf. 1:14). But in a mere human such as Jesus' adversaries took him to be, the assertion was blasphemous and punishable by stoning (Lev 24:16). Once again he escaped their animosity (v.59; cf. 7:30; 8:20).