Jesus - The Water of Cleansing

Introduction

Thus far in this series, I’d preached in introductory message. In that message I attempted to show that:

Not only were the OT & NT connected, but that the OT was the foundation of the NT.

They are not contradictory, but complementary

That Salvation has always been by faith - it was never by works

That Jesus is seen all throughout the OT in types & shadows - foreshadowing the Christ that was to come.

Hebrews 11:13“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

They saw the Christ from ‘afar’ and believed by faith - therefore they were Justified by God

One of the greatest (if not the greatest) picture of Jesus is found in the Tabernacle in the wilderness.

In the last message we examined the first article of the Tabernacle, in the Brazen Altar. In that we see:

The Sacrifice of Jesus

The Salvation found in Jesus

Today we’re going to look at the 2nd article - the Brazen Laver (show pic)

This is the wash basin that the priests were instructed to wash their hands & feet during their service in the Tabernacle.

In the Altar, we see the Salvation of Jesus

In the Laver, we’re going to see the Sanctification of Jesus. The washing, cleansing & making anew that only Jesus can provide.

That being said, we’ll look first at the Plan

I. The Plan

(The Construction & importance of it)

It’s Substance

The Brazen Laver was made solely of brass.

Remember the Altar was wood overlaid with brass, whereas this is solely of brass… but it’s actually more than that.

Exodus 38:8 “And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking-glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”

So for this article, God used the ‘looking glasses’ of the women for it’s construction. (Explain the ‘looking glass’ - mirror, finely polished brass)

This is significant for a few reasons, one I’ll share in a moment, but consider this: These women were willing to put their pride & vanity aside to give unto the LORD.

(Ill.) Today if we want to look at ourselves, we simply go to the bathroom or pass by the one of many mirrors in our homes. Almost everywhere we go, we can find one if we look - yet it wasn’t that way back then. These were precious items that weren’t easily replaced - yet the women were willing to give them up for the work of the LORD! What a testimony!

It’s Size

In contrast to every other piece / article of furniture in the tabernacle, the Word of God didn’t declare a size for it.

Once we get into the purpose for the Laver, I’ll explain the significance for this then.

We notice it’s Size

We see the Plan. Next, we’ll look at the Position

II. The Position

(Where it’s Placed and Why)

Exodus 40:7 “And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.”

After the Brazen Altar

(Show picture)

Remember, as you approach the door of the Tabernacle, you are first confronted with the Brazen Altar. This is symbolic of the Cross of Christ.

It’s the place where the blood of atonement flowed

It’s the place where substitutionary sacrifice was made

It was a place where the innocent were slain, and the guilty went free

It was a place of torments - Just as the Cross was. But it was what was required to gain entry into the courts of the tabernacle! You couldn’t get in unless you did business at the Brazen Altar - just like you can’t get into the body of Christ without doing business with the Cross.

So it was After the Brazen Altar, but it was Before the Tent of the Congregation

Before the Tent of the Congregation

It was within the tent of the congregation, behind the veil upon the Mercy Seat where God abode!

So in order to draw close unto God, you then had to take care of business at the Brazen Altar.

Without that - you may be in the Courtyard, but you can’t get close to God!

Before the Tent of the Congregation

We see the Plan and the Position. Next, we’ll look at the Purpose

III. The Purpose

(What is the function of it)

For Introspection

Remember what the Laver was constructed from… from the looking glasses of the women. Exodus 38:8 “And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking-glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”

It was suitable to cast a reflection

When the priests came unto the laver to wash, they would be forced to look at themselves.

(Ill.) Just a couple weeks ago when preaching about courage, I spoke on how David had the courage for Self-examination. How after he was confronted by Nathan, David took a good look at himself.

The Laver and the construction thereof was suitable for introspection - in that as the priests of God would come to wash themselves, they’d remember why they were there! Because they were dirty!

I’m not simply talking about the outside church - all this was symbolic of what was on the inside.

David didn’t know he was dirty until he bothered to take a look at himself in truth! He was avoiding mirrors that would show him the truth!

The Purpose was Introspection

To Maintain Cleanliness

Before they were to enter into the service of the LORD, the priests were all washed thoroughly. (Ex. 40:12-16)

Because they were washed completely, then adorned with their priestly garb, they didn’t need a full bath. They just needed to wash their hands and their feet.

As we study the Tabernacle, one thing that we notice is that there was no floor within. Therefore, as the priests would walk through the Sanctuary as they did the service for the LORD, they would get their feet & hands dirty. It was UNAVOIDABLE.

Church, as we go through this life, walk through this world, the wickedness is so great that it’s unavoidable that we become defiled.

If you go to Walmart - just going by the ads, we get pictures of half naked women, then looking down the isles you get the same

Just as the priests would get defiled just by going through the work of God, we get defiled as well. We don’t need a bath, but we need a constant washing of the hands and feet.

To Maintain Cleanliness - and it was sufficient to do so

It is Sufficient to do so

I’d said that the laver was the one item that didn’t have any dimensions. That’s significant because it could be just as big as it needed to be.

When we’re talking about the perpetual cleansing & purifying that the laver offers, it’s important to note that it was sufficient to cleanse regardless.

As Christians there’s times when we stumble & fall, and sometimes it’s hard to believe that the LORD could clean us up after the mess that we’ve made of ourselves. But I want you to know that there’s water enough for your cleansing! There is just as much as you need!

To be Fit to Labor for the LORD

Exodus 30:20 “When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord:”

Before they could ‘come near to the altar to minister’ they had to wash.

2 Timothy 2:19–21 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

The priest wouldn’t be fit to serve the LORD with unwashen hands & feet - just as Christians - who are saved, yet regarding iniquity in their hearts - are not ‘meet for the Master’s use’.

More damage is done by the declarations of the unrepentant Christian than done by the atheist. The atheist believes not in God and says so, but the unrepentant Christian SAYS they believe in God, but doesn’t act like it.

We need the continual washing that Jesus provides to be fit for the Master’s Use

To be Free from the Chastisement of the LORD

Twice in Ex. 30:20-21 we see the warning ‘that they die not’.

In other words, there was a consequence for going about the work of the LORD with unwashed filth.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to get a whooping. I don’t like the chastisement of the LORD - so in order to keep from that, we should be continually looking for the cleansing that Jesus provides.

To be Free from the Chastisement of the LORD

IV. The Performance

(The NT Scripture / Story that corresponds with it)

The Direction

The first thing that we’ll see is the Scripture that speaks of how this cleansing takes place.

Jesus said in John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

Then He Prayed: John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Paul spoke about the church in: Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”

We are cleansed by the Word of God! It has the power to cleanse us ETERNALLY and INTERNALLY.

(Ill.) I was speaking to someone not long ago who was struggling with something: (Which is what Satan wants) and told them two things: 1. The Word of God is what purifies our hearts, lives & minds - the more we’re in it, the better it is for us. It cleanses Eternally, but also Internally, then I said told him of 2. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If we will just BELIEVE THAT, it will cleanse us internally from the guilt & shame that comes with getting dirt on our hands & feet!

We’re washed by the water of the Word - and don’t forget who the Word is!

John 1:1–3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Jesus is the Word, and the Word washes us clean.

Now let’s look at the Illustration

The Illustration (Joh. 13:1-17)

In this Scripture, we see the Laver in action. Jesus washing the feet of the apostles. One things to note:

John 13:10 “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”

In other words, you’ve been by the Altar, now you just need your feet washed.

We see the Illustration

Conclusion

Church let me ask you:

Have you been by the Altar, or are you standing on the outside?

Maybe you’ve been by the Altar, but it’s been a while since you’ve been by the Laver.

Why don’t you come and let the Word wash you and make you whole again?