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[ To a transcendental God, there is no past, present or future. ]

Exactly... thats why what Jesus says and does in scripture is in view of and knowing about future events.. i.e. the cock crows thrice(comment to Simon peter)..

Also the Sheep pens in John ch 10.. are in view of the future.. almost prophecy.. maybe not almost..

[ To a transcendental God, there is no past, present or future. ]

= = =

Yes and no.

Saying HE IS BEYOND past, present and future makes sense.

Saying he has no understanding, appreciation for, use of, perspective on. . . past, present and future . . .

is

imho,

nonsense.

Indeed. And I find the dialog between Christ and Peter in the Gospel of John to be quite revealing.

All the while He is speaking, Jesus knows Peter’s heart and that he will indeed feed His sheep and that he will suffer death because of it and the manner of his physical death. Yet He reveals all of this to Peter couched in the "if/then": Do you love me? Feed my sheep.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry [thee] whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. – John 21:15-19

Moreover Jesus repeats it three times, showing the great importance of the qualification to feed His sheep – that we must love Him to feed His sheep.

So we see both predestination and free will in Jesus’ words to Peter.

He knows what Peter will do and what shall happen to him – but reveals by the "if/then" that Peter has the freedom of movement to love Jesus – or not - and thus to feed His sheep (in the power of the words of God) - or not.

To God be the glory!