Cheryl Schatz

allennelson4, Thanks for your input! Again your comment is a great one and worthy of a response. May I share my understanding? You are incorrect about the passage and about my exegesis. i have not said that EVERYONE “gets” the food, but that the crowd is PROMISED to be GIVEN the food. This is a promise that cannot be overlooked, even if one does not understand what Jesus means. It still is a promise. I have made it clear that not everyone receives the food (eternal life), so not everyone gets food (eternal life). This is the foundation for what is to come with Jesus’ own words. When you say that Jesus doesn’t say “IF you work, I’ll give”, but that His giving is contingent on those working for the food, this would amount to the same thing. Jesus does not make His giving into a payment for a work done. We both have to agree on that point. It would be highly problematic for your own view if Jesus was saying that one needs to earn eternal life, since that would annul the Calvinistic view of the Sovereignty of God. It would also take you outside orthodoxy. What we do see from the verse is: 1. Working for the food that perishes is not about getting paid . It is an effort that results in a harvest. Jesus has said it before: Luke 13:24 (NASB) 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. It is not good enough just to “seek”. Jesus said you must “strive” to enter. To “strive” in order to enter, means to struggle, to “take pains, exert oneself” (BDAG lexicon) just as the term “work”. However, the striving is not to be paid as a obligation, but a “strain every nerve to enter” (BDAG lexicon) to show eternal life is worth the effort to receive. 2. Jesus gave a promise that would not result from a payment made to Him. Not only is the promise unconditional, but to consider the promise as conditional (which the grammar does not support) would make one outside the evangelical faith. That is a problem for both sides, and we should all agree. 3. The seal that is set on Jesus from the Father is attached to The Giving, thus it is not just the promise of Jesus, but the promise of the Father, that to this unbelieving crowd, the Son of Man (Jesus) WILL give eternal life. The points that I have to share will develop over the upcoming posts on the next verses. I appreciate a challenge, because I do believe that one’s view must stand up to examination. As fas as the “seeking” being either “man’s will” or “the Father’s will”, I will leave that to my upcoming posts to discuss, if it is okay with you. I also want to say that I appreciate that you have seen my effort to break down the passage to the inspired words. Thanks! I would also like to encourage you to reflect on the promise that Jesus gave to the crowd. There is no payment requested from the unbelieving crowd, but we cannot ignore the promise. Jesus said “the Son of Man WILL give to you…” I would love to have you around to critique the remaining verses as I take the promise of Jesus and use it as the stepping off point for what comes next. We cannot afford to dismiss the inspired words of Jesus. They will fit in like a glove with His remaining words to the crowd. I would also like to express my appreciation for your graciousness. You have expressed your view without attacking and with consideration for our common Lord. Thank you!