The laver of cleansing pictured the daily cleansing believers need after they have already been washed and saved through the brazen altar.
Les teaches that the priest, after offering sacrifices at the brazen altar, had to stop at the laver, a brass wash basin that served as a mirror. There he saw his need and washed before going into the tent. It pictured the spiritual cleansing of sin and, for believers, the continuing cleansing from defilement picked up in daily life, just as Jesus washed the disciples' feet.
John 13:10 — Jesus' words to Peter explain the pictured purpose of the laver: a person already bathed only needs his feet washed.
In John 13:10, Jesus said, "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all." This verse shows a clear distinction between a complete washing and the need to wash only the feet. The Bible uses this physical picture to show that someone who has already been cleansed can still have defiled feet and need ongoing cleansing.
Les says the laver of cleansing stood between the brazen altar and the tabernacle tent. When the priest came in to begin his sacrifices at the brazen altar, he had to stop at the laver, which was filled with water and made of brass from looking-glass. It was both a wash basin and a mirror that reflected whatever need he had in cleansing before he could proceed. Les connects this to John 13: the disciples, apart from Judas, had already been washed and were clean, yet they still needed their feet washed. In the same way, the laver pictured a daily cleansing for those who had already come to the altar. Les also stresses that every material and aspect of the tabernacle, including the laver, is a picture of Christ, and that the constant priestly washings taught Israel that sin is filthy and requires spiritual cleansing.
Les says the laver was placed out between the actual tabernacle tent and the brazen altar where the sacrifices were burned. The priest, after beginning his sacrifices at the brazen altar, had to stop at the laver before proceeding. It was filled with water and made of brass from looking-glass.
Les teaches that all the materials and aspects of the tabernacle picture Christ in some aspect of His finished work at the cross. The laver of cleansing is one of those pictures. He specifically says Jesus is the laver of cleansing, just as He is the high priest, the sacrificial animal, the place of sacrifice, the table of showbread, the altar of incense, the candlestick, and the Ark of the Covenant.
Les explains that in the Old Testament economy a priest had to wash again and again before serving, especially before the Day of Atonement. These washings emphasized the need for spiritual cleansing; the water itself could not do it, but it pictured the cleansing aspect and prepared the priests. Throughout the Law of Moses there was constant washing to show Israel that sin was a filthy thing.
Les takes the cleansing aspect to John 13. The disciples, apart from Judas, had already been washed and were saved, but they still needed their feet washed. The laver pictured the same truth: a person who has already come to the altar, who is already in Christ, still needs daily cleansing from the defilement of walking through the world. Les notes they did not stop and take a whole bath; it was a foot-washing cleansing.
God's Divine Appointments in Scripture – Ruth, John 4 & The Tabernacle Explained | Bible Study
so forth that stabilize it, they were all made of wood covered with gold. And then those posts were set in sockets of brass. Now, of course, the white linen, that depicted the very righteousness of Christ, the very righteousness of God, and it was nine feet tall. And the picture of it is that the common person could not look in on the things of God. And that's still true.
The Laver's Position and Material
Les describes the laver as standing between the brazen altar and the tent, filled with water and made of brass from looking-glass, so the priest had to stop there after his sacrifices.
The Laver as a Picture of Christ
Les says every material and aspect of the tabernacle, including the laver, pictures Christ in His finished work at the cross.
Washings Emphasize Spiritual Cleansing
Les shows that the priestly washings, like Naaman's dipping in the Jordan, were only pictures of cleansing; the water could not accomplish it spiritually.
Sin Is Filthy
Les says the constant washing in the Law of Moses was to show Israel that sin was a filthy thing and needed cleansing.
The Laver and Foot Washing
Les connects the laver to Jesus washing the disciples' feet: already-washed believers still need daily cleansing from defilement, not a whole bath.
Christ Is the Laver
Les explicitly identifies Jesus as the laver of cleansing, among all the other tabernacle pictures of Christ.
Washing Before the Day of Atonement
Les notes that before the Day of Atonement the priest had to wash and wash, depicting a complete physical cleansing before he could serve.
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.
This verse is where Les turns to explain the laver's lesson: full washing has already happened, but feet still need cleansing.
Les shows that after coming from the brazen altar, the priest had to stop at the laver before proceeding. The consistent pattern of washings in the priesthood emphasized the need for cleansing, and the laver reflected whatever need he had.
Yes. Les says all the materials of the tabernacle, including the laver, were a picture of Christ. He specifically calls Jesus 'the laver of cleansing'.
Believers have already been washed and are clean, but they pick up defilement in daily life, so they need daily cleansing. This is pictured by Jesus washing the disciples' feet.