Holy Laver

We read in Ex. 30:17 where God spake to Moses: "Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein." The laver was for washing for Aaron and his sons, the priests. As we will notice there were occasions when they would be washed and occasions when they would wash themselves. The following verses teach us that Aaron and his sons were to be washed
before the holy garments were placed upon them:

1. Ex. 29:4, "And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water."

2. Ex. 40:11, 12, "And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot and sanctify it. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water."

3. Lev. 8:6, "and Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water."

In the occasions above we see that Aaron and his sons did not wash themselves, but rather were washed prior to having the holy garments placed upon them.

In comparison there were times when Aaron and his sons were to wash themselves prior to going into the tabernacle: Ex. 30:18 21, "Thou shalt also make a laver of brass and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 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: So shall they wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statue forever to them, even to him and his seed throughout their generations." Thus there were two types of washings. Washings that were done to the priests and washings the priests did to themselves.

In the new testament there are at least seven washings that apply to the child of God. In two of these washings the scriptures teach that God is the one who does the washing. These washings are as follows:

1. Rev. 1:5, "Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood..." This is a judicial washing and teaches us that through the shed blood of Jesus we are cleansed from our sins before the just and holy God.

2. Tit. 3:4, 5, "But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have  done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost..." This is an internal washing that the Holy Ghost does to us when we are born again of the Spirit. This is the same washing that is taught in John 3:5, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Likewise, we read in Eph. 5:26, "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." Thus Jesus sanctified and cleansed us when he spoke the word of life into us in the new birth. Therefore, this washing God applies to us in the new birth.

3. Rev. 7:13, 14, "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." This is an experiential washing. When God's redeemed see themselves as poor ruined, hell deserving sinners and then afterwards they see that Jesus died for them, then in the experience of their heart they by faith see themselves righteous before God.

4. Acts 22:16, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Water baptism is a ceremonial washing. According to 1 Pet. 3:21 water baptism does not put away the filth of the flesh (sins) but is the answer of a good conscience toward God. Water baptism shows forth the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Thru Jesus' death and resurrection our sins are
atoned for, forgiven, and put away. Thus when a child of God is baptized he is signifying that Jesus died and arose to put away his sins. Thus, in the ordinance of baptism, he is ceremoniously washing away his sins. This is akin to the old testament Passover when the children of Israel thru applying the blood of the slain lamb to the upper door post and two side posts, ceremoniously cleansed their house from the avenger of sin.

5. 1 John 1:7 9, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This washing is the daily washing of our conscience from the pollution of sin guiltiness. When we sin against God our heart condemns us. When we confess our sin to God he forgives us and causes us to realize our sins have been washed in his atoning blood at the cross.

6. II Cor. 7:1, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Also James 4:8, "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." The child of God applies this cleansing when he strives to walk uprightly according to God's word. This cleansing doesn't make him upright, but brings his lifestyle into conformity to the redeemed upright stature that God has made him.

7. In John chapter 13 Jesus washed the disciples feet and then commanded them to wash one another's feet. Washing of the saints feet requires humility. Pride is perhaps the biggest enemy that a child of God must overcome in his Christian walk. God resists the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. While washing the saints feet is a ceremonial washing of humility, it points us to the need to walk humbly before God and man.