The Bronze Laver (Exodus 30:17-21)

Once offering our accepted sacrifice upon the Bronze Altar, we then proceed west on toward the Tabernacle. Between the Bronze Altar and the Tabernacle is the Bronze Laver. What is this telling us? Where are we in this pictograph that God has drawn out for us?

Previously, we were unrighteous and could not enter the presence of God. The white fine twined linen fence blocked us. However, there is one opening, a door if you please.

Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

We entered that door. Once doing so, we see an altar, and the sacrifice has been provided for us, the Lamb of God. We accepted the sacrifice that was made for us. We now have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

We belong to Him now, so we proceed onward to the Tabernacle tent to fellowship with God. However, as we walk the dusty road of life, our feet become dirty. We must be clean before entering the Tabernacle because we are on Holy ground (Exodus 3:5). So we remove our sandals and He washes our feet.

“When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” (John 13:6-11 NLT)

This is exactly what the Apostle John is talking about in 1 John 1:9 when he says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” At this point, we have come to the Laver.

Now some today practice washing feet in their assemblies, and that’s fine if that’s what they want to do, but this is not what the Bible is saying. We cannot make each other clean. That can only be done by God. However, we can forgive one another, and we should.

The Bronze Laver though is about being washed clean spiritually. The washing is internal, not external. Christians still sin, and we need to come to the Laver before entering the Tabernacle. We don’t come to the Laver to be saved. We’re already saved. That was accomplished at the Bronze Altar. It isn’t the whole body that needs to be washed, just the feet as Jesus points out in John 13:6-11. So how are we washed at the Laver?

“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:26-27)

We are washed by God’s Word and we are forgiven for our daily sins (Matthew 6:12) by exercising 1 John 1:9 through prayer.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Yes, I am aware of the following verses:

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:14-15)

To be clear, Jesus is not telling us to physically wash each other’s feet. He is telling us to forgive each other. The washing is all about “forgiveness.” I wonder how many people have physically washed someone’s feet in a church service and before the hour was up, their sharp tongue was cutting the same person to shreds. Forgiveness folks. It’s all about forgiveness.

Jesus did two things when He washed the disciples’ feet. He forgave their sins and He made them clean. We can forgive each other, and we should, but we cannot make someone else spiritually clean. That can only be done at the Bronze Laver of Jesus Christ. Perhaps this will become clearer as we proceed.

There is one important thing about the Laver that must be pointed out. This is the only piece of furniture that has no measurements. This says to me that God’s arms are opened wide to His children. He is the Father in Luke 15:11- 32 waiting for his son or daughter to come to their senses and come home. Now it doesn’t say that the prodigal son was washed, but I’m sure after wallowing in the pigpen he was washed before donning the finest robe in the house.

There is no measurement to the Laver because our sins and they are many, are washed away by the blood of the Lamb at the Altar, and washed away by the forgiving grace of Almighty God at the Laver as we live before Him upon this earth.

There is no measurement to the Laver because some of His children may sin more than others. Just as earthly children differ, so do heavenly children. Some are more obedient. Some are not as obedient. We all have our own personalities, weaknesses and strengths, and God compensates for that. There is only one sin God cannot forgive, and it cannot be committed by a Christian. That is the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit found in Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-30.

What a blessing it is to know that we have a forgiving Father in Heaven. Keep in mind that our Heavenly Father is not like so many parents of today who allow their unruly children to run wild. He will discipline His own.

The Laver that stands just in front of the Tabernacle tent also loudly proclaims that we are on Holy ground. Just as God told Moses to remove his shoes, for he was on Holy ground, we need to be clean to fellowship with our Lord. Jesus demonstrated in the verses above (John 13:6-11) that we don’t need to be washed all over again as in salvation. We just need to wash our feet as in restoration of fellowship when we sin.

When a Christian is baptized (all others are dunked) it signifies the cleansing power of Jesus when He saves us and the on-going cleansing in the life of His children as He washes the dust from our feet. It also signifies that we identify with His sacrifice for us at the Bronze Altar and our new life with Him as we journey toward the Holy of Holies.

Grant Phillips

The Bronze Altar (Exodus 27:1-8)

At the time of Moses, the people were required to bring a sacrifice when entering the Eastern Gate. At this point they would be standing before the Bronze Altar while the priest would slay their sacrifice and present it upon the altar before God.

The bronze altar was 7 ½ feet wide and 7 ½ feet long and 4 ½ feet high, a square. It was made of wood encased in bronze. The wood speaks of our Savior’s body, His humanity, the Son of Man as our sacrifice. The bronze cries forth of judgment upon our sins by a Holy God. The fire is a picture of God’s wrath upon sin that He brought down upon His only begotten Son, for us.

As the flames leapt to the heavens, the intense heat consumed the sacrifice, leaving smoke wafting in the air and the smell of judgment upon the altar. However, the wood of the altar was not consumed, since it was securely wrapped in bronze. This reminds me that Jesus is not in His grave. The grave is empty. With us, our corpse would be resting in the earth, but Jesus is sitting on the right hand of the Father. He said that no one could take His life. He gave it freely, and He conquered death (John 2:19; 10:18).

Year after year, those living prior to the cross brought their sacrifices to the altar in anticipation of the one and final sacrifice that would be made (Isaiah 53:7). All those multiplied thousands of sacrifices only stayed God’s hand of judgment upon us until He provided the sacrifice of His own Son. Then Jesus accepted His Father’s wrath on our behalf upon the cross. Jesus stood in the gap, and deflected all judgment for our sins upon Himself. God gave us a picture of God the Father sacrificing His own Son in Genesis chapter 22 with Abraham and Isaac.

Since the cross, there is no longer any need for sacrifices. Notice what the Lord states in Hebrews 10:1-4; 11-18.

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”

The one sacrifice that matters has been made and the penalty for sin has been paid by Jesus Christ. To offer any other is a sin and will not be accepted as the following verses say.

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

The knowledge of the truth is that Jesus Christ is the only sacrifice that God will accept. If we continue to deny that sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross, and instead offer our own works, we will remain in our sins and face the judgment of God.

This is very serious. God has made it very clear in His Word that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. The only thing we can do is, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)

It is crystal clear in Ephesians 2:8-9 that it is “…by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

But human nature wants to add something to it or take something away from it. To do this will bring down God’s judgment upon those who refuse His Son.

And then there are those who just will not accept a blood sacrifice for their sins, specifically the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They are those who follow the way of Cain. They want to do it their way. However, God says,

“…without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)

Sad to say, many will go to their graves thinking they are good enough to face what they are not sure is on the other side of death. Those of us who know Jesus Christ are sure what is there; i.e. Jesus as Judge or Jesus with open arms. Any other sacrifice than that of Jesus Christ will not be accepted. These unbelieving souls will meet Him as Judge.

The Bronze Altar is the Cross of Christ. Where we once brought sacrifices to the Bronze Altar, we must now come empty handed before the Cross of Christ. To do otherwise is eternal suicide. He is our Sacrifice. He can be our Savior, and if He is our Savior, then He is our Lord and our God.

Grant Phillips