When God gave the children of Israel the instructions for building the tabernacle, He told them also to build a large basin or caldron in which to keep water for ceremonial washing. The priests were to wash their hands to prepare to touch holy things. They were also to wash their feet to prepare to walk on holy ground. Only after they washed could they then enter the tabernacle or offer burnt sacrifices to the Lord. Failure to properly wash would bring certain death (Ex. 30:17-21).

Much later when King Solomon built a more elaborate temple, the water basin was replaced by a huge bowl-shaped reservoir of water called The Sea, which held about 17,500 gallons. This too was used specifically for the washing of the priests (2 Chron. 4:4- 6).

These ceremonial washings not only made the priests ritually clean to offer the burnt sacrifices, but they also pointed toward a greater cleansing—this is the one Ezekiel spoke of when he wrote, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. . . . I will save you from all your uncleanness” (Ezek. 36:25, 29). This is the same one Zechariah speaks of when he says, “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zech. 13:1).

That fountain is our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can wash us clean from the filthy stain of our sins. Jesus demonstrated that when, “A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cured of his leprosy” (Matt. 8:2-3). Jesus cleaned the man of his leprosy to show him and us that He can cleanse us from our greatest filth—even our sin.

One way the Lord cleanses us of our sins is through the waters of our Baptism. Ananias said to Paul, “Get up and be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). So also Paul would later write, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5-6). Like the ancient priests of Israel, being properly cleaned is a matter of life and death. If we do not have our sins washed away by the fountain of Christ, we face eternal death (John 3:36). But being cleansed of our sins and clothed in His righteousness we have everlasting life (Rev. 7:13-14).

Prayer: “Nothing in my hand I bring; Simply to thy cross I cling. Naked, come to thee for dress; Helpless look to thee for grace; Foul I to the fountain fly; Wash me Savior or I die.” Amen. (Rock of Ages, stanza 3)

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Updated: Tuesday March 04, 2008