Passage
The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death—ever.’
John 8:52 (LSB)
Nearby Context
John 8:50 But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges.
John 8:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death—ever.”
John 8:52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death—ever.’
John 8:53 Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?”
John 8:54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’;
Study Lenses
The verse centers on "jews", "said", "demon", "abraham", "died", "prophets", "anyone", and "keeps". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "jews" and "said", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.
The nearby context moves from verse 51's "Truly truly I say to you if..." into verse 53's "Surely You are not greater than our...", so "jews" and "said" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.
A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "jews" and "said" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.