Exodus 30: 17-21, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.”
When the High Priest and his sons were first ordained they had to wash themselves all over with water (Ex 29: 4, “And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.”). After this was done they had to come to the laver and wash their hands and their feet so that they could continue with their duties. The laver was just like a very large basin full of water for washing. It was assumed that once the priests had washed themselves all over they were then ceremonially clean for the task following their ordination and the required sacrifices. From day to day they would have some contact with their environment, they would walk from their own tent to the Tabernacle and they would touch various things as well. This meant that they would receive some contamination from their environment and this had to be recognised when they went to perform their duties. This passage is analogous to John 13: 3-11, (“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.”) The Lord Jesus Christ had told His disciples “that whosever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16). At that stage all His disciples believed in Him but Judas so they were all clean before God. However, they lived in the world and were contaminated by their contact with the world. We, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are the same. We need to come back to Him on a daily basis and fill our minds again with His love and grace so that we can clean the parts of our mind that have daily contact with the world around us.
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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