The Baptism of Jesus and the Brazen Laver
Our purpose here is to correlate the attributes, functions and purpose of the items found in the Tabernacle of Moses to the life and words of Jesus. In achieving this we build a case that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Tabernacles’ prophesies and therefore the Christ. In addition, as we learn more about the Tabernacle and how it foretells the coming of Jesus, we will find that we gain a better understanding of the heart of God and the nature of His love.
Our post today will take a look how the Baptism of Jesus fulfills one of the prophesies of the Brazen Laver. So let’s look deeper into the scriptures relating to the Brazen Laver prior to our look into the Baptism of Jesus. This information can be found by simply follow this link: The-Brazen-Laver.
The Baptism of Jesus
The ministry of John the Baptist was to make straight the path of the Lord who was to come.
Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ‘ as the prophet Isaiah said. (John 1:22 – 23)
John the Baptist
He preached repentance of sin and baptism in water for the remission of sin. John’s ministry led the people toward purity in preparation for their entering into a closer, more spiritual relationship with God.
John the Baptist from the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest
However, baptism was soon to take an entirely new form when Jesus came to John to be baptized. Although He was without sin[ii], Jesus was baptized by John in water to fulfill the model of the Brazen Laver that required purity through washing prior to entering ministry. The new form of baptism was introduced as Jesus came up from the water and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, thus signifying the ultimate form of purity. From that point forward Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit and therefore was ready for ministry.
John the Baptist baptizes Jesus
In addition, He was then able to baptize others with the Holy Spirit, therein empowering them from on high. This enabled His disciples to minister with power and to have a deeper spiritual relationship with God. Let’s look at the scriptures that support these statements:
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’“ John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. (Mark 1:1-5)
Like the priest washing at the Brazen Laver, John was preparing the people for entering into a closer relationship with God. The Father had sent His son, the living Tabernacle, to earth and now the Father was empowering Jesus to accomplish His mission on earth:
And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. (Mark 1:7-13)
John Baptizes Jesus
So, the purification of the priests in water of the Laver is prophetic of the baptism of Christ Jesus, our high priest, in the Holy Spirit. We can conclude from this that repentance and baptism are very important components prior to entering into ministry. Water baptism is so important that our Lord Jesus came to be baptized by John. In doing so He gave us baptism as a model that to emulate. A model that when emulated will result in the baptism of the Holy Sprit.
The point in all of this is that weather you look at the old or the new covenant you will find that the cleansing of the minister is necessary prior to entering ministry. This was as true for Tabernacle priest who washed at the Laver, as it was for Jesus who was baptized in the Jordan by John. Therefore, it is true for any of us who seek to serve the Lord as well.
This purification is necessary for the development of an empowering relationship with God. For us it is the empowering of the Holy Spirit. We will learn more about the importance of this in subsequent postings.
You can read addition posts about Jesus fulfilling the Lavers prophesy by following the links below:
Being-Born-Of-The-Spirit-And-The-Brazen-Laver
Jesus-Gives-The-Living-Water-Of-The-Laver
True-Baptism-Reveled-In-The-Reflections-Of-The-Laver
Lessons-From-Jesus-Our-Brazen-Laver
Jesus-The-Laver-Washes-His-Disciples-Feet
[ii] Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
SEEKING JESUS 
“In God we make our boast all day long” – Psalm 44:8
Thanks for your thoughts!
-Sol
http://www.calebandsol.com
‘In doing so He gave us baptism as a model that to emulate. A model that when emulated will result in the baptism of the Holy Sprit.’ How can emulating a model result in you becoming what the model symbolizes? You are in effect saying when you get baptised by water you automatically become baptised by the Spirit. Paul calls you fools in Galatians 3:3 (KJV) ”Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Yes Paul was talking of circumcision , and water baptism is no less an act of the flesh. I urge you to read his letter to the Galatians.
Jesus is the model and we are all emulators of Him, as it is written:
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
The words written in the gospels present us with a model of Jesus that is presented by His actions and words. They are the model of perfection that we hope to dwell with for all of eternity. Therefore we strive for this perfection.
We do it through the washing of the word by way of help from the Holy Spirit. We read about Jesus and the spirit helps us to see ourselves as we really are, and that in turn convicts us to conform ourselves to Christ. Therefore, we are emultaing the model of Jesus that has been given to us in the Gospels.
In baptism we are identifying with Jesus in His death and resurrection. Jesus was baptised in identification with all humanity. At this point He became the representative Man. We were crucified with Him and rose with Him. The old Adamic nature was legally judged and buried with Jesus. At Jordan, Jesus was presenting Himself at the Laver as candidate for our Great High Priest. He was of the age when priests were consecrated.
After being washed, the priest was then clothed with the Priestly Garment. Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit which is the priestly garment. He told the disciples to wait till they were endued [literally ‘clothed’] with the Holy Spirit before they began ministry. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit takes us into the Holy Place – a new dimension. Val Pym
http//:valpym.blogspot.com