THE BRAZEN LAVER = Christ our SANCTIFICATION (Fellowship)
Cleansing from sin's defilement by the Water of the Word (Ex. 38:8; 30:18; Eph. 5:26-27; Jn. l5:3; 13:7-8, 10a).

God gets to sinners and sinners to God without the laver. The blood on the altar makes me fit for the presence of God. The laver has to do with another line of truth altogether.

From the spear wound in Christ's side came blood and water (Jn. 19:34; 1 Jn. 5:6).
The blood speaks of judicial cleansing once? for all from sin's guilt; the water of constant cleansing from sin's defilement through the Word of God (see Scriptures at heading). This is practical sanctification. This is what Christ meant when talking with Peter in John 13. Fellowship is impaired by "unwashed feet" -- the defilement of the daily walk, and we must be cleansed if we are to have fellowship with Him (Jn. 13:8; 1 Jn. 1:9; 2:l-2).

"Let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, save me from its guilt and power."

Then, there is the double use of the laver, illustrated by the words of our in John 13: (1) He speaks of the "bath of regeneration" (Jn. 13:10; Tit. 3:5), i.e., all-over cleansing of initial salvation, illustrated by couplet bathing of body of priests to begin their ministry (Lev. 8:6); (2) there is the cleansing of feet from daily defilement memorial mentioned above.

The laver was made completely of brass, picturing the absolute justice of the Eternal Word (Jn. 1:1, 14) which necessitates our being constantly "washed by the water of the (written) Word," lest we be chastened of Christ, the Eternal Word, is the receptacle which holds in His very the cleansing Written Word; He is the full and final message of God to men, the Revealer of God (Jn. 1:18).

The brass for the laver was obtained by having the women donate their looking glasses (Ex. 38:8)! As Christians, we "pour contempt on all our pride," and judge it all by the Word. Here we have illustrated the law of association. They formerly used these to "look at themselves" before going out to be with people. We are to "look at ourselves," i.e., examine or scrutinize ourselves before going in to fellowship with God!

The priests washed their feet and their hands. I need cleansing for "my walk" and "my work."

There were no measurements or weights given for the laver. Who can measure the value of the Word of God, either the Eternal Word or the Living (written) Word?

"Mason's Notes"

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