42 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (John 10:3)

Who is the door keeper?

Primarily, the doorkeeper is the Holy Spirit

However, even Pastors, elders and other Christian leaders who are supposed to guard and protect Jesus' followers on His behalf are the door keepers.

Calling his sheep by name speaks of a close relationship with the sheep.

Calling names in the prophetic ministry is not just a gimmick but a way to show that the Lord knows His people.

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (John 10:4)

Notice, the shepherd goes before His sheep. In other words, he is leading them and not driving them.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. (John 10:22)

The Feast of Dedication was a feast to celebrate the re-dedication of the second temple of Jerusalem in 164 BC after the Jewish victory (Maccabean revolt) over their Syrian occupiers. In an effort to religiously unify its empire, the Syrian occupiers had built an altar to Zeus in the temple of Jerusalem three years earlier, enraging the Jews and triggering their eventually victorious armed revolt.

The present name of the Feast of Dedication is Hanukkah and is held in December. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days. It is also known as the Festival of Lights

Chapter 10