Category: Brazen Laver


Becoming Like Jesus the Way

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, Jesus the Altar of Burnt Offerings, Jesus the Tabernacle, Jesus the Tabernacle Courtyard — 1 Comment
October 22, 2009

Becoming Like Jesus the “Way”

In our quest to become more like Jesus the Good Shepherd, we must also become the Good Shepherd to whom we are entrusted. We must take an ownership position by guiding them toward the green pastures of God. We must pray for them. We must always remember that the Good Shepherds’ love for His sheep is so great that He protected them with His own life.

Jesus the Good Shepherd

Jesus the Good Shepherd

In a previous posting we were introduced to the Altar of Burnt Offerings (look at the index found in the right hand column of this page.)

The Tabernacle

The Fire Burning in the Brazen Laver of the Tabernacle

What we uncovered there is that this altar is prophetic of Jesus in several ways. We found that the Altar represented the cross of Jesus. We found that the blood of the slaughtered lamb was sprinkled on the Altar for the forgiveness of sins. This of course is prophetic of the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. Finally, the animals’ carcass would be burned on the Altar as a perfect sacrifice to God, and this of course is prophetic of Jesus’ passion that led to His death on the cross. In this way the Brazen Altar of the Tabernacle is perfectly prophetic of Jesus and His purpose of dying on the cross.

Jesus on the Cross

Jesus on the Cross

The sacrifice of Jesus gives us much to contemplate. If we are to follow in His footsteps then we must come to the understanding that sacrifices are required to help people. This often means giving up our own aspirations to ensure that others are loved, protected and looked after. In loving others we loose ourselves as we are no longer internally focused. In this regard we die to ourselves, but with the knowledge that we will gain a better life with God forever in the resurrection (as Jesus was also resurrected.) After all, this is exactly what Jesus did:

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:24-26)

Jesus is the Good Shepherd because He chose to save us rather than saving Himself. Jesus did not run from death at our expense but rather gave up His life for us. His life was not taken from Him but rather He gave it freely. He did not defend Himself even though He was innocent of all transgression. The following passages support this position.

Jesus Knew His Fate

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” (Matthew 26:1-2)

Jesus Shed His Blood

Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. (John 19:32-34)

Jesus Sheds His Blood on the Cross

Jesus Sheds His Blood on the Cross

Jesus Did Not Run

Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” (John 18:3-9)

Jesus Did Not Defend Himself

Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.” And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. (Mark 15:1-5)

In patterning our own lives after the life of Jesus, we find that there are many lessons to be gained by becoming like Jesus, “The Way.” First of all, Jesus was obedient to The Father in going to the cross. So, the sacrificing of our own way in obedience to the Father is something we should strive to achieve.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:24-27)

Second, we must strive to support the welfare and betterment of others.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Mark 9:41)

Third, we must be ready to resist the status quo that will seek to derail our quest to do the good work that God has shown us to do.

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. (John 11:45-53)

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When will the Anointing Come for Service in Ministry?

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, Jesus the Altar of Burnt Offerings, Jesus the Brazen Laver, Jesus the Holy Place, Jesus the Tabernacle, Jesus the Tabernacle Courtyard, Ministry, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard, The Alter of Burnt Offerings, The Holy Of Holies, The Way — Leave a comment
August 1, 2009

When will the Anointing Come for Service in Ministry?

I had a question that asked when the anointing would come in support of ministry. As I though this answer may have a general interest I provide it here for everyone.

The anointing comes in support of our service in doing God’s will. This web site does a couple of things that will help you in finding the answers to your questions.

First it helps us to better understand Jesus by looking at Tabernacle, which is prophetic of Him in every way.

The Tabernacle Courtyard

The Tabernacle Courtyard

Secondly, it helps us to understand our walk with God by closely looking at the Tabernacle and the life of Jesus. What we find there is that the Tabernacle is divided into three compartments and they are called the Tabernacle Courtyard, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.

The Chanbers of the Tabernacle

The Chanbers of the Tabernacle

Each chamber resents a type of relationship that we can have with God and since these chambers can be entered in only one sequence our relationship with God therefore must grow progressively as we seek to become more like our savior Jesus.

This first compartment (the Courtyard) is where a relationship of “grace” is achieved. It is here that a lamb was sacrificed and burned on a brazen altar for the forgiveness of the sins of the people.

The Tabernacle Courtyard

The Lamb Brought to the Tabernacle Courtyard

Jesus of course was the perfect Lamb who gave His life for the forgiveness of our sins. In addition, the Courtyard is a place of preparation of the priest who desire a more intimate ministry with God. This preparation was manifest at the Brazen Laver where the priests would purify themselves prior entering into ministry in the Holy Place.

Since the Laver surface had a mirror like quality the priest could see his reflection as he washed in the Laver. As they washed they believed that they saw themselves as God saw them. As a result their hidden faults were uncovered and they earnestly contemplated their worthiness to enter into a closer relationship with God in the Holy Place. This reflection resulted n a change of heart, which is necessary to enter into the service of almighty God in the Holy Place.

Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle

Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle

Our posting prove that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Tabernacles prophesy and that He is the Tabernacle Courtyard, the Brazen Altar, the Lamb and the Brazen Laver. He is our Brazen Laver in that by looking intently at His life, His words and His actions we can see ourselves as God sees us. By finding scripture that identifies these things and asking the Holy Spirit for help we can see how our actions, words and lives stack up to His. This could give us much to contemplate prior to launching out into a ministry.

I mention all of this because the Holy Place is where our pathway is enlightened, our relationship with the Father is matured and we become empowered for spiritual warfare, which is the anointing for God’s service.

I believe that reviewing the following links can explain all of this in more detail:

The-Tabernacle-Courtyard-is-Prophetic-of-Jesus-a-Review

The-Brazen-Laver

The-Baptism-of-Jesus-and-the-Brazen-Laver

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

Jesus-Gave-us-all-he-had

Jesus-the-Brazen-Laver-Reveals-our-Destiny

Reflections-of-Jesus-Regarding-Service

Jesus-the-Laver-Teaches-do-what-ever-it-takes

Jesus-the-Laver-Teaches-Disregard-Status

Jesus-the-Laver-Teaches-Lead-by-Example

Jesus-the-Laver-Teaches-Personally-Touch-People

Jesus-our-Laver-Teaches-that-we-will-be-Tested

Yes, I will pray for you. Please keep me posted on your progress and otherwise let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

May God bless you in all ways to spread the word of His Son to all of India.

Papa Joe Gordon

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The Tabernacle Courtyard Is Prophetic of Jesus – a review

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, Jesus the Altar of Burnt Offerings, Jesus the Brazen Laver, Jesus the Tabernacle, Jesus the Tabernacle Courtyard, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard, The Alter of Burnt Offerings — 7 Comments
February 10, 2009

 

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

Read my amazing true life story about how the forces of good and evil battle for my life and the vision that God has given me. My book, “Possess the Vision,” communicates my supernatural experiences and as a result, provides insight into the realm of the spiritual warfare that is raging for our souls and our purpose. This is a must read for all Christians. Learn more by following this link: Possess-the-Vision-at-Amazon

The Tabernacle Courtyard Is Prophetic of Jesus

 

The Tabernacle Courtyard

The Tabernacle Courtyard

In our previous postings we have presented the Tabernacle Courtyard as prophetic of the Jesus in that it foretells the life of Christ. We will now continue with our larger objective of substantiating the Tabernacle and its contents as prophetic of Christ Jesus.

Jesus and Moses at the Transfiguration Discuss the Fulfillment of the Tabernacles Prophesy

Jesus and Moses at the Transfiguration Discuss the Fulfillment of the Tabernacles Prophesy

To initiate this quest we will start with a review of all of the material we have presented to date, which addresses the Tabernacle Courtyard and demonstrates that Jesus is the Way to a relationship of grace with God.


 

The foundation for all of the work we will present on this subject is based upon the, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” statement made by Jesus. What we have revealed is that these names, (the way, the truth and the life), are also used to name the entrances into the Tabernacle chambers. “The Way,” for example is the name of the gate that leads into the Tabernacle Courtyard.

The Tabernacle Gate - The Way

The Tabernacle Gate - The Way

The Truth is the name of the door into the Holy Place,

The Brazen Laver In Front Of "The Way" To The Holy Place

and in like manner, “the Life,” is the passage into the Most Holy place of God. For a more detailed explanation of all of this please follow this link Jesus-is-the-Way-the-Truth-and-the-Life.

Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle

Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle

Another part of the work covered to date is that the Tabernacle is the place where God promised to dwell with His people in accordance with the covenant He made with them. Given that the chambers of the Tabernacle must be entered in sequence, what we have uncovered is that a progressively intimate relationship with God is achieved as each new chamber is entered. So for example, the Tabernacle Courtyard is the chamber where a relationship of grace (forgiveness of sin) is achieved. The Holy Place brings us to a relationship of enlightenment (purpose and path) and empowerment (spiritual warfare), while the Most Holy place offers a relationship of covenant (dwelling under the protection of God).

To date our investigation of the Tabernacle has been limited to looking at the Courtyard, the first of the three chambers of the Tabernacle. As a part of this investigation we have presented the objects found in the Courtyard, including their purpose and attributes and correlated them to the words and deeds of Jesus. So, for example, we found that grace is achieved in the Courtyard by way of blood sacrifice, in which a Lamb is slaughtered and then burned on the Brazen Alter (see details at Jesus-the-Brazen-Laver.) We then associated Jesus, the “Lamb of God,” to this object by correlating it to His sacrifice and death on the cross.

Jesus on the Cross Sheds His Blood

This sacrifice was required for the forgiveness of our sins. It also substantiates that Jesus as the fulfillment of the Brazen Altar and therefore the Courtyard of the Tabernacle. This correlation should also help us to better understand what Jesus meant when He said “I am The Way,” which means that He is the way of a relationship of grace. For more information about this please go to Jesus-is-the-Way and Becoming-like-Jesus-the-Way.

Our investigation of the Courtyard also presented an examination of the Brazen Laver, which is the other object found in the Tabernacle Courtyard (for more details go to Jesus-the-Brazen-Laver.) The Laver is a water basin used for purification prior to entering the next chamber (the Holy Place) and a closer relationship with God. The process of washing at the Laver required the priest to bend over it and as he did, he would see his reflection in its polished surface. The priests believed that when they looked into the Laver, that they saw themselves as God saw them. As a result their hidden faults were uncovered and they earnestly contemplated their worthiness to enter into a closer relationship with God in the Holy Place. This reflection resulted in a change in heart, which is necessary to enter into the Holy Place.

We then connected the function and attributes of the Laver with the life and words of Jesus. We used the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan as a fulfillment of prophesy of the Laver (for more information go to the-Laver-and-the-Holy-Spirit-of-Jesus.)

John Baptizes Jesus - Making Straight The Way Of The Lord

John Baptizes Jesus - Making Straight The Way Of The Lord

We also saw how the washing His disciple’s feet became a reflection of their readiness to enter into His ministry. In general we conclude that all of the words and deeds of Jesus are occasions for reflection and opportunities for change in preparation for ministry. Therefore our reading of scriptures that contain the words and deeds of Jesus are opportunities for reflection about our nature and how we stack up to in comparison to Jesus, our model of perfection. These occasions are opportunities to conform our heart and mind to Him as we pursue a more intimate relationship to our God. For additional information about this go to Applying-the-attributes-of-Jesus-our-Laver.

So, by passing through “the Way” and into the Tabernacle Courtyard we find that our sins are forgiven and that our nature is changed as we seek to move into a deeper relationship with the Lord in the Holy Place. In a like manner we find that by passing through Jesus that our sins are forgiven and our nature is changed as we read His word and seek to become like Him. When this metamorphosis is complete we become ready to move to the next level by entering the passageway called “The Truth.”

 

The Truth leads us into the Holy Place of God where our pathway is enlightened, our relationship with the Father is matured and we become empowered for spiritual warfare. Now we are ready to introduce you to, “Jesus the Truth” in our subsequent postings.  

 

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The Brazen Laver

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard — 3 Comments
January 6, 2009

The Morning Star Rising on the First Day

The Brazen Laver

 

The Brazen Laver is second of two objects located in the Tabernacle’s Courtyard.

 

Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. And you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. (Exodus 40:6-7)

tabernacle-courtyard

The Laver’s function was to provide a place for the priests to purify themselves prior to serving in ministry or entering the Tabernacle’s Holy Place. As the following passage suggests, purification is a required precursor to priestly ministry.

 

You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water, lest they die. (Exodus 30:18-20)

 

The Brazen Laver therefore is a wash basin made of polished bronze (which is derived from the word, brazen). The bronze surface is polished to such a highly reflective state that it obtains mirror like qualities. In fact, the Laver was made from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting (Exodus 38:8). Because of this reflective characteristic, the priests were able to see their reflection in the Laver as they bent over it to wash.

 

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Jesus Is The Way

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, Jesus the Altar of Burnt Offerings, Jesus the Tabernacle, Jesus the Tabernacle Courtyard, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard, The Alter of Burnt Offerings, The Way — 1 Comment
January 4, 2009

Jesus is the Way

We now plan to present an investigation into the significance of Jesus’ statement; “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” with our primary focus for this post to be on what Jesus meant when He said “I am the Way.”

lamb


Our strategy is to draw parallels to the Tabernacle Courtyard as the passage way into this chamber of the Tabernacle is also called “the Way.” So the Tabernacle Courtyard will become a starting point of our investigation as we will present its artifacts, attributes and purpose.

the-full-tabernacle


Once we have achieved an understanding of the Courtyard we will turn our attention to the parallels in the life of Jesus. We will demonstrate that His life and words reveal Him to be the Courtyards’ prophetic promise for the forgiveness of sin through Gods’ relationship of grace with man. With that said, let us move on to looking at the Tabernacle Courtyard.

The Courtyard is enclosed by a linen fence and a gate (called the Way) that provides entry into the Tabernacle. Three objects can be found in the Courtyard. They are the Altar of Burnt Offerings, the Brazen Laver and the Sanctuary tent.

Upon the Altar of Burnt Offerings animal and blood sacrifices were made for the forgiveness of sins. The Brazen Laver was used for cleansing by the priest after performing their duties in the Tabernacle Courtyard and prior to entering into the Sanctuary tent.

To learn about the Tabernacle Fence and Gate follow the link below:

The-Tabernacle-Fence-And-Gate

tabernacle-gate

To learn about the Altar of Burnt Offerings follow the link below:

The-Altar-Of-Burnt-Offerings

To learn about the Activities at the Altar of Burnt Offerings follow the link below:

The-Activities-At-The-Altar-Of-Burnt-Offerings

Next our attention will turn to looking for parallels in the life of Jesus, starting with the Altar of Burnt offerings. First we will look at Jesus being the sacrifice for our sins because He is the Lamb of God. Next we will look at Jesus from the standpoint of being the good shepherd as He gave His life on the cross for us.

To learn about Jesus the Lamb of God follow the link below:

tabernacle-courtyard


Jesus-Is-The-Lamb-Of-God

To learn about Jesus the Altar of Burnt Offerings follow the link below:

Jesus-Is-The-Altar-Of-Burnt-Offerings

To learn about Jesus the Good Shepherd follow the link below:

Jesus-Is-The-Good-Shepherd

p1010227

The Good Shepherd gave up His life for His sheep.

The Brazen Laver is another object found inside the Tabernacle Courtyard. It’s main purpose is to allow for the cleansing of the priest prior to ministry. The following link will take you to the post that describes the Tabernacles’ Laver:

The-Brazen-Laver

One of the ways that can claim that Jesus is the fulfillment of Tabernacle prophesies is by looking at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. The following link will take you to this discussion.

The-Baptism-Of-Jesus-And-The-Brazen-Laver

john-baptizes-jesus

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Jesus The Brazen Laver

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard — Leave a comment
December 20, 2008

Jesus The Brazen Laver

The Brazen Laver is second of two objects located in the Tabernacle’s Outer Court.

Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. And you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. (Exodus 40:6-7)

The Laver’s function was to provide a place for the priests to purify themselves prior to serving in ministry or entering the Tabernacle’s Holy Place. As the following passage suggests, purification is a required precursor to priestly ministry.

You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water, lest they die. (Exodus 30:18-20)

The Brazen Laver therefore is a wash basin made of polished bronze (which is derived from the word, brazen). The bronze surface is polished to such a highly reflective state that it obtains mirror like qualities. In fact, the Laver was made from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting (Exodus 38:8). Because of this reflective characteristic, the priests were able to see their reflection in the Laver as they bent over it to wash.

So, with these facts in mind, let’s look deeper into the scriptures relating to the Brazen Laver. As we progress from this point, we will attempt to correlate what the scriptures have to say in support of the proposition that Jesus is our Brazen Laver and therefore the Christ. In this regard we will be looking to answer four basic questions; first, what did Jesus (and others) claim in this regard? Second, what were the actions of Jesus that support these claims? Third, what did the Father do in support of the words and actions of Jesus? Finally, what are the common attributes shared by our Lord Jesus and the Brazen Laver, and how can we integrate them into our lives?

We will now proceed to looking at Jesus as the Brazen Laver from these perspectives.

The Baptism of Jesus

The ministry of John the Baptist was to make straight the path of the Lord[i] who was to come. 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.

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 ready for ministry.

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)

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 ministry. Water baptism is so important that our Lord Jesus came to be baptized by John. In doing so He gave us a model that to emulate. A model that when emulated by those who truly repent and seek to do God’s will, results in the baptism in the Holy Sprit. The point in all of this is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit brings us to a closer relationship with God. It brings fellowship with the Father, enlightenment to God’s truth, and empowerment for the battle of ministry. All three of these blessings of relationship are also prophesied by the objects found in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, which can only be entered by a purified priest. We cover all of this in our next major section, but we introduce it here to draw the connection between the baptism of Jesus and the purification of the priest at the Laver. Both were done prior to ministry. Both were prerequisites to a closer relationship with the Father and His blessings necessary for ministry. But we are getting ahead of ourselves a bit here, so let’s once again focus on the correlation between the Laver and Christ Jesus. This is where we will begin in our next posting.

May God bless all of you. I look forward to hearing any comments that you may have.

[i] John 1:22 – 23 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.

[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.

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Jesus Is The Tabernacle Courtyard

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard, The Alter of Burnt Offerings, The Way — 2 Comments
February 11, 2008

Jesus Is The Tabernacle Courtyard

In this posting we will continue with our presentation of scripture taken from Exodus in an effort to learn more about the Tabernacle and how it foretold the coming of Jesus.

Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. And you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. You shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen at the court gate. And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it; and you shall hallow it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy. You shall anoint the altar of the burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar. The altar shall be most holy. And you shall anoint the laver and its base, and consecrate it. Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water. You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

This scripture presents the objects found in the Tabernacle Courtyard, which is also referred to simply as the courtyard or in some cases the Outer Courtyard.  One must pass through the gate that is named “the way” when entering into the courtyard. The name of the gate is a direct correlation to the “I am the Way” proclamation of Jesus. The Altar of Burnt Offerings, which is also called the Brazen Altar, is the place that animal sacrifices were burned for the forgiveness of the people’s sins. The priests would first slaughter the animals and then place their carcass on the altar. He would then sprinkle their blood on the objects of the Tabernacle to make them holy.

The Laver is also called the Brazen Laver and it is used as a holding place for water that is used in the priests cleansing, prior to their entering into ministry. The laver also had a mirror like quality to it that enabled the priest to see their reflection as they washed. They viewed this reflection as seeing themselves as God did. This was critical as they were preparing for ministry in the Holy Place where their readiness to move into a deeper relationship with God was critical.

Jesus is our Brazen Altar because His crucifixion was the sacrifice that achieved the forgiveness of our sins. It is through the shedding of His blood on the cross that He bore the punishment we rightly deserve. It is because of this sacrifice that we are able to regain our relationship with the Father.

Jesus is our Brazen Laver because we are cleansed in the waters of His words and deeds found in scripture. It is in comparing our words and actions to those of Jesus that we can clearly see our own faults and shortcomings. We therefore see ourselves as God does. In recognizing our faults we are empowered to change the nature of our hearts and therefore the nature of the person that we are. We become ready for ministry and a deeper relationship with God.

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Applying The Attributes Of Jesus Our Laver

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard, The Way — 1 Comment
November 6, 2007

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Applying The Attributes Of Jesus Our Laver


So, based on our previous postings regarding the Laver, we have uncovered a number of key attributes of Christ Jesus. Our intention is to use them as the model of perfection that we are called to become. As we progress in this section, we plan on using these key attributes to help us better understand how our own actions and decisions compare to the pure light of Jesus’ life, hoping that they will reveal our hidden faults. As with any scripture that teaches us about Jesus, we have the opportunity to meditate on these stories and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to the truth. When we find similar circumstances in our own life we should ask ourselves, “What actions did I take (or not take) and what needs to change for me to be more like Jesus?”

As mentioned in our previous posts, cleansing at the Brazen Laver was a prerequisite for entering into the Holy place of God. In addition, the Holy place of God is a place of enlightenment, relationship with the Father and success in spiritual warfare. Therefore, it is necessary for us to focus on Jesus our Laver, for the purification necessary achieve a closer relationship with God. A loving relationship that will enlighten our pathway and empower us in the ministry He has chosen for us. This purification can come only through Christ Jesus because He is the one living Tabernacle that came down from heaven[i].


In our last posting we spent quite a bit of time looking at the scripture of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. It may be a good idea to review this posting prior to proceeding as it is referenced substantially in this document.


So now we can proceed with our list of the attributes of Jesus that have been introduced in our section entitled “Jesus the Brazen Laver”. I hope that you will be able to use this list to better understand who Jesus is, so that you can apply the model of Jesus the Laver to your life.


Be Of Service To Others


One of the strongest messages from the material presented so far is that disciples must possess a servant’s heart and that true greatness comes only from serving others in ministry. This message was forgotten by Jesus’ disciples, who had been contending with each other over who would be the greatest after Jesus was gone. Apparently, Jesus’ prior teaching on service to others had not changed their hearts or their behavior. It is for this reason that Jesus had to address this flaw with them again. The following scripture is Jesus’ teaching on the subject:


But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:34-35)

Do What Ever It Takes

A second key point is to do whatever it takes to get the message across. In the case of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus gets their attention by performing an activity (the washing of feet) that was assigned to the lowest of servants in their culture[ii]. The message here is to disregard social norms concerning status in society when serving God. With Jesus, God leveled the social status playing field.

Lead By Example

Another teaching is to do more than just preach the Word, but rather, lead by example in the things that the word instructs as well[iii]. Jesus spoke to His disciples about who would be the greatest with no apparent effect. Therefore, it took a personal demonstration to drive home the point (in washing their feet). His disciples must have been humbled by how radically He lowered Himself to serve them. They must have been personally touched as He personally ministered to each and every one of them. Just think about what they must have been thinking while He washed their feet. They would have had to realize at that moment, just how far they had fallen short of the will of God in their behavior. The message from Jesus is clear, He did not come to be served but to serve83, and He wants His disciples to do the same. His actions demonstrated the will of God. He spoke the truth and He did what He told others He would do. He came to serve others, which was exemplified not only in the washing of feet but in His ultimate sacrifice on the cross as well.

Become A Model For Others

Jesus was a model for His disciples and for each and every one of us as well. Should we not be the same for others as well? This means that our lives are to be a Godly example for others. The things we do and say must demonstrate the love of Jesus to others. We cannot hide our God given light under a basket, but rather place it in the center of the house where all can see, as adequately communicated by Jesus in the following passage:


Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:15 – 16)

Be Careful With Whom You Walk In Ministry


My belief is that one of the reasons that Jesus washed the feet of the disciples could have been that they had walked in ministry with Judas who betrayed Jesus. In washing their feet they were once again cleansed for the ministry of Christ Jesus.

Also note that Jesus did not join the ministries of the Pharisees, Sadducees or any other sect of their religion. He knew that they loved the status and power that their positions brought much more than they loved doing the will of God. One must consider that if evil had entered into the leadership positions of the church during the time of Jesus, then why would we believe that it cannot happen today? It is precisely for this reason that we must seek to have an even closer relationship with God than can be achieved in the Outer Courtyard of the Tabernacle (relationship of grace) alone. We must move into the Holy Place of God (relationship of empowerment) where our pathway will be illuminated, we eat the Bread of Life and we will enter into spiritual warfare to defeat the enemies of God and of our ministry. All of this starts with cleansing at the Brazen Alter that is life of Jesus. We must have discernment about others that we walk with in ministry.

Disregard Status, Rank And Position


Peter did not want Jesus to wash His feet because he believed that it was beneath the dignity of His Lord and Savior to perform the task of the lowest of slaves. But this is precisely the reason that the message was delivered! Jesus is teaching them that they should disregard status, rank and position in service to one another. These things are things of the world and unimportant in the kingdom of God. Therefore, the leader of a ministry is a servant to the workers and followers of that ministry. A Pastor is a servant to the congregation. An evangelist is a servant to the newly converted to Christ. A teacher of God’s Word is a servant to the pupils who seek to do the will of God. And, while each of these positions come with some level of status or rank in the world, the true Christian abandons rank, status and position in favor of service in ministry to others. We all should serve our brothers and sisters in the Lord. This means that if we are members of a ministry that we also need to serve our pastors and ministers that God has given to us as they in turn serve us. In addition, we need to do all things as a service unto the Lord:


…and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.” (Luke 9:48)

Personally Touch People


In washing His disciple’s feet, Jesus touched each disciple. In fact, the disciples were being touched continuously by the teaching and demonstration of spiritual truth in the ministry of Jesus. They were with Him constantly as He ministered to others. They listened as He taught others, and they witnessed the miracles He performed. In addition, they received the benefit of His personal explanations, teachings, and warnings regarding the Scribes and the Pharisees. They witnessed Jesus’ special relationship with the Father in the Transfiguration on the mountain and in the ascension of Jesus into Heaven. The disciples had to be touched by these events as they witnessed the glory of God demonstrated on earth.


The Bible asks us to follow in Jesus’ foot steps. We must touch people personally. Not just in the laying on of hands, but in stepping out in faith and expecting to witness the glory of God demonstrated by the power of the Holy Spirit right here on earth. There should be healing of the sick, the resurrection of the dead, miraculous provisions for the poor, and miracles of all kinds demonstrated for all to see God’s love for His people. God’s heartfelt desire is to wipe away every tear and provide every good thing for His people. After all, the Father gave His own Son. Why would He spare anything else from those who love Him130?

Be Humble


Jesus used His own life as an ideal demonstration of how we are to act. Jesus did not have a home. He did not build a church of stone. He did not study as a Scribe or Pharisee but, rather, challenged the religious leaders of His day with the truth. In doing so, He was subjected to their scorn and the persecution that followed.

Jesus asked those who were healed not to identify Him as their healer. He did not come to brag about what He could do. His concern was for the people.

Be ready and willing to take on any task you are led toward by the power of the Holy Spirit. Disregard how you will appear to others, what they may think or even your own level of dignity. God wants to see how much you are willing to give up of this world to do His will. He wants to see how much you love Him.

Eliminate Worldly Desires

Jesus had a desire for us to know the truth and spiritually return to the loving arms of the Father. He had no desire for anything of this earth. He had no desire for honor, dignity, riches or glory. He only did the things that He saw the Father do62. Therefore, we also must eliminate all desire for worldly honor, dignity, riches and glory. The disciples contended with each other over who got the most glory and honor. This type of behavior, if left unchecked, could have destroyed the foundation of the church. It is the same principle today as it was 2000 years ago. Disagreement between the leaders of a ministry can destroy the foundation of that ministry. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Seek Him with all of your heart, mind and soul.

Eliminate Self-Exaltation


Self-exaltation is a specific demonstration of worldly desire and is an indication of our old nature to seek worldly gratification. This human tendency means that we should examine our motives for doing everything. We must continuously ask ourselves; am I doing this for myself, or am I doing this for the Lord? Am I looking for power, control or recognition by taking these actions? Self-exaltation has no place among Christians. We must eliminate it from our behavior. We must avoid the spirit of domination of others and of seeking personal glory.

Be Baptized In Watter And Spirit


John baptized in water to make straight the pathway[iv] for the Lord’s ministry. Jesus was also baptized in water, and as a result received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the process. The disciples of Jesus baptized others as a part of their ministry. In addition, Jesus commanded them to baptize others in the grand commission. Be baptized and repent of your sins. Seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit and make the baptism of others a part of you ministry.

Know That You Will Be Tested


Immediately after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led into the wilderness and tested by Satan for forty days. Satan tempted Jesus with everything that he had in an effort to get Him to deny his purpose and his ministry. In denying the temptations of Satan, Jesus proved that He was a worthy of ministry. He defeated Satan by resisting all of the temptations of this world and remaining true to His Father’s mission for Him. He successfully resisted the temptations of the flesh, of power, of riches and fame. He chose the path of the Spirit of God in favor of the path of the spirit of this world.

Know The Scriptures


Get an understanding of what Jesus did, what He valued, what He said, what He prophesied, and who He proclaimed Himself to be. Memorize the words of Jesus that you find uplifting. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the scriptures so that Jesus is revealed to you.

Take Time To Meditate And Reflect

Reflect on the state of your heart and your life. Bring to mind the actions and words of Jesus and ask how does this compare to the actions of my own life? How could I have done things differently?

Ask The Holy Spirit For Help

We need God’s help to achieve the kind of change we are looking for. We simply cannot achieve this kind of change on our own. Seek the Holy Spirit and bring the issues you are dealing with to Him. Pray for positive change in the name of Jesus.

Jesus the Model of What We Can Become

It is at the laver where we take the time necessary to reflect upon our shortcomings and the things that we must do to become more like our Savior. One thing is certain and it is that we are not likely to achieve the perfection that Jesus did on this earth, and yet, the reality is that God wants us to become like Him[v]. As we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, and choose to change at His leading, we become more like Jesus, one step at a time. Slowly we are transformed back toward the image and likeness of God, knowing that one day we will be united with Jesus and shine as brightly as He demonstrated in the transfiguration. Here is the truth according to Mathew:

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light and behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” (Matthew 17:1-9)

So, when Jesus claimed to be the Way, He used His own life as example of what we can become. In the example above Jesus gives us a glimpse into the bright and shining spiritual being that we can become. Certainly, the reflection at the Laver calls us to examine the state of our lives in comparison to the perfect model which is Jesus. In addition, we have to ask the question; are we ready to move into a closer and more intimate relationship with God or is there something that is holding us back?

Being able to answer this question requires an in-depth understanding of Jesus, and we often find ourselves studying Bible to get that understanding. In understanding the words and actions of Jesus we are much better prepared to identify our improvement areas. In addition, as in all things, we seek the help of the Holy Spirit in identifying and achieving change. Jesus is, “The Way” to effective change because when we become more like Him, we do the things that He did, we speak the words that He spoke, we conform our heart to His compassion level and we earnestly seek to please the Father in all that we do, just like He did.

Based on the life of Jesus we chose to change to be like Him. We read the scripture like the, “Washing of feet” passage above, and we are convicted in our hearts by our own sad life style. We seek the Holy Spirit to help us change our lives such that we serve other Christians and cast aside any focus we may have on our own importance or self interests. In implementing these changes we move closer to God. We become more like Jesus, the Son of God, continuously seeking to conform to the perfect image of Jesus. After all, we are the Bride of Christ46.

“The Way” Leads to the Courtyard of Grace

“The Way” is a name that is sometimes used for the gate that leads to the Tabernacles Outer Court where a relationship of grace is established with God. It is here in the Outer Court that the Holy Spirit leads us to repentance and compels us to ask for forgiveness of our sins.

We are led to the Outer Court when we become so desperate for help that all we can do is give up and search for God for an answer. We call out to Him and He draws us in. He enables us to reflect upon who we are, how we have failed, and most importantly, how He is the only Way. Eventually, we break down, repent and ask forgiveness.


As we dwell in the Outer Court, we are also persuaded to look at Jesus, His life and His deeds. By looking at Him, we can see in our hidden imperfections in the pure light of God. We are led to reexamine our actions and life choices based upon the purity of His. We are humbled by our discoveries and know that we owe a debit that we cannot pay. Fortunately, the shed blood of Jesus, the Lamb, has already earned our forgiveness and His body has been burned upon the Alter of God in payment. It is in the Outer Court that He took the punishment that we deserved for our sin upon Himself, therein, setting us free from sin. The result is that our nature is changed. Our hearts and minds are conformed to the heart and mind of Jesus.

In the Outer Court we enter into a cycle of reflection, self discovery, repentance and forgiveness that continues until God determines that we are ready to enter into an even closer relationship with Him. A relationship that requires that we pass through the passageway called, “The Truth” and enter into His Holy Place which is the topic of our next major section.


[i] Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

[ii] Spirit Filled Life Bible, p 1600, note 13-5

[iii] James 1:23 – 24 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

[iv] John 1:23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ‘ as the prophet Isaiah said.

[v] Mat 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

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Jesus Washes The Feet Of His Disciples

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard — Leave a comment
November 2, 2007

If you are a new visitor to our site you will find that we are in the midst of a search to understand, find and become more like Jesus. New readers may find it helpful to read or browse the past postings, as there are several instances where current material is build upon prior postings. These postings can be found in the right hand column of the web page, in the box entitled “PAGES”, starting with the topic of “Seeking Jesus”. With that said we will present our current material.


In this section we will look for evidence of Jesus performing the services offered at the Brazen Laver. We will also explore the lessons that we can apply to our own lives that flow from our analysis of this topic.

Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean”; So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” (John 13:3-20)

Jesus clearly communicates several key points in washing His disciple’s feet. First of all, He communicates that each disciple should strive for purity in their life and their walk with God. For example, in the above passage Jesus tells Peter, “And you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” This is in obvious reference to Judas who allowed the devil to enter the desire to betray Jesus[i] into his heart. The implication here is that the cleansing of Peter’s feet was necessary because he had walked with Judas, the son of perdition[ii], as a brother in ministry.

A lesson to be learned here is to be careful about who we walk with in ministry. If we walk with evil then how can our feet be clean? In addition, this lesson is symbolic of the transformation that the disciples would soon undertake in being baptized by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the washing of their feet prepared them by washing away this worldly life in preparation for entering a life in the spirit.

In addition, Jesus tells Peter, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” This is a direct correlation to the purification at the Laver, where it was also a requirement to enter a deeper relationship with God. Secondly, we should model our life after the life of Jesus. In perfecting our walk with God we should look at the life of Jesus as the model of perfection to which we aspire. Reflecting on our own actions and, in turn, comparing them to His actions results in the ability to see ourselves for what we are. If this is the case in our life then we can be expected to wash the feet of those who walk in ministry with Jesus.

Thirdly, the washing of feet is symbolic of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which in turn, is preparation for the ministry of the priesthood. Jesus was preparing His disciples for priesthood at the Last Supper. His instructions were clear that they were to go and wait for the helper, the Holy Spirit. Here is what happened:

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which, He said, “You have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4 – 5)

In addition, the following scripture that confirms this prophesy of Jesus:

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and was confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs; we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” (Acts 2:1 – 12)

Look at Jesus to Clearly see Yourself

From this example of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples we can extrapolate the following principle: Only by looking at and focusing on the life of Jesus can we see ourselves accurately. Looking directly into the life and actions of Jesus is like looking into a spiritual mirror that reflects our true image. In other words, we see ourselves as God sees us. Is this not what happened when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples? They watched as Jesus lowered Himself culturally to the status of a slave in washing their feet. The result was that their self-image was changed in the process. They realized that they had to deal with some serious imperfections. They were able to truly see their faults, perhaps for the first time. They saw themselves not with the eyes of the world but rather, with the eyes of God. They, therefore, knew that they would have to change their heart and their behavior to be able to achieve what God wanted in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

As we will learn in the next section, Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” His words and actions reveal the truth that was sent down from the Father in heaven. In this respect, looking at the life of Jesus is like looking into a mirror in perfectly clear light. It enables us to clearly see even our most minor faults. It is in this way that Jesus is our modern day Brazen Laver.

[i] John 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,

[ii] John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

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The Laver And The Holy Spirit Of Jesus

Filed under: Brazen Laver, Jesus, spirtual warfare, Tabernacle, Tabernacle Courtyard, The Truth, The Way — 1 Comment
October 29, 2007

In our last posting, we introduced the Brazen Laver and compared its attributes and purpose to those of the life of Jesus. Based on the material presented, we claimed that the Laver was prophetic of Christ. From this point forward, we will attempt to develop a deeper understanding of how Jesus fulfills the promise of this component of the Tabernacle.

Being Born of the Spirit

In one of His teachings Jesus raises the subject of being born again, which is being born of water and spirit. Jesus introduces this subject in the following passage:

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3-7)

Notice that being born again is necessary to see or enter into the kingdom of God. Therefor, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan (previously covered) was a necessary foundation of what we must do to enter the kingdom of God.

Reach out for thr Living Water

 

Everlasting life is achieved by reaching out for the living waters that Jesus provides in the form of the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus is the source of these living waters in the same way that the Laver is the container for the water used by the priests for purification prior to ministry. In the following passage, Jesus uses water (living water) in a symbolic way of the Holy Spirit:

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” (John 4:10-15)

The Grand Commission – Go out Baptizing

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus visited the disciples several times prior to His ascension into heaven. On one such occasion, He gave His disciples what many call the grand commission. What we are about to uncover is that baptism is a very significant part of the grand commission.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Jesus is the Brazen Laver

 

As stated previously, the purpose of the Laver was to provide a place of cleansing prior to any priest entering into ministry. For example, cleansing was required prior to entering into the Holy Place of God for ministry.

In addition, the shape of the Laver required the priest to bend over it and look into the water while washing. Since the inside surface of the Laver consisted of a highly polished brass, the priest was able to see his own reflection as he washed. Many believe that he would see himself as God saw him. If this is the case, then the prist would have to contemplate their readyness to enter into ministry in the Holy Place of God. He would have to examine his worthiness to enter into a closer relationship with the almighty God. Finally, this reflection would have been the motivation necessary to initiate the permenent change necessary for a Godly ministry.

Jesus is our Laver because it is in reading the scriptures, and especially in the words of Jesus, that we come to examine how our heart and compassion for people compare to those of our Lord. The words of Jesus are the vehicle through which we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to see ourselves as we truly are. His words convict us in our heart to change our nature. By reading about His life and His words, we become purified and empowered by the Holy Spirit and are changed. We are changed in body, mind, heart and spirit into a new creation[i]. We seek a deeper relationship with God and the desire for evil is removed from our nature.

Comparing the Brazen Laver to Jesus

 

For us who live today, the process of moving into a closer relationship with God is much the same as it was for the priests who served at the Tabernacle. It starts with a genuine yearning for a closer relationship with God and is often accompanied with the remorse for our sins and the wonderment of how God could have been so loving as to set us free from the errors of our ways. So, while the Tabernacle priest saw his reflection in the clear waters of the Laver, we see ourselves by looking into the pure words and actions of Jesus as presented in scripture. It is in this self realization that the Holy Spirit pulls on our heart to reach out for God with an honest and open heart to beg for forgiveness and to seek to change.

One reason that Jesus was sent by the Father was to reveal God’s truth. His life has served as an example for the disciples who lived over 2000 years ago, as it does for us also today. The pathway to ministry is clearly seen through the life and words of Jesus as presented in the scriptures of the Bible. In effect, we require the reflection of God’s perfect mirror in order to see ourselves for what we really are. This is because we are often blinded to our own shortcomings until we look into His perfect deeds, words, and compassionate heart, and contrast them to our own. This can only happen when we are drawn by God into a relationship with Him that fills our hearts with a desire to go deeper. When we do our hearts will yearn for purity out of a desire to love and please God.

When we look at the life of Jesus, we find how far we fall short of the mark. We see how radically different the actions of Jesus are from our own. We see that Jesus conveyed perfect love in His actions, and we are humbled as our short comings are revealed.

We repent as we reflect about our life, heart, mind, and the quality of our walk with Him. We repent as we reflect upon what we are and seek to become what God wants us to be. We repent as we examine ourselves — what we say and do. We repent as we prepare ourselves to move into a spiritual relationship with God. We change through the conforming[ii] of our mind[iii] to be like Him.

This repenting is the same as our purification at the Brazen Laver. It is empowered by the Holy Spirit who leads us into these self-discoveries and in a direction of becoming a changed person. Our hearts burn to become what God wants us to become — sons of the living God. We keep coming back for reflection and cleansing in an effort to achieve spiritual purity. This purity enables us to become spiritual priests that can enter into Gods presence in the Holy Place.

One critical component associated with the purity achieved through baptism in the Holy Spirit is that it necessary for haveing victory over the devil, which is the primary purpose of ministry. This is reinforced by the scripture about Jesus being led into the wilderness by the spirit and immediately entered into spiritual warfare with the devil. The devil tempted Jesus with everything he had in this world but Jesus had no desire for the things of this world. He was spiritually pure, which means that He had no evil desire for the things of this world in Him. There is a lesson here for everyone who contemplates entering into ministry. Any little flaw can cause us to stumble and fail to be effective against the devil, and as a consequence, in our ministry. Jesus’ ministry started with physical depravity and testing. Know that you will be thoroughly tested as well. Jesus’ victory over the temptations of Satan preceded the message and acts of His ministry. Know that you must be victorious over Satan prior to being successful in ministry as well.

In summary, Jesus is the fulfilled prophesy of the Brazen Laver for several reasons. First of all, only by looking directly into Him are we able to see ourselves with clarity. Secondly, as we repent for falling short of the mark, He cleanses us in His own blood and, therein, forgives us of our sin. Thirdly, as we seek purity and thereby change to become like Him, we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit that empowers our change and supports our ministry.

In our next posting we will look at the specific instances in Jesus’ life that support this message.

[i] 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

[ii] 1 Pet 1:14 – 16 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

[iii] Ephesians 4:22 – 24 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

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