Music...
00:00:01.36\00:00:25.62
Welcome to: The Sanctuary,
Salvation and our Savior.
00:00:25.65\00:00:29.62
I'm so glad that you
joined us on this journey
00:00:29.66\00:00:32.36
as we study the
relevance of the sanctuary
00:00:32.39\00:00:35.06
to our practical
Christian lives...
00:00:35.10\00:00:36.56
also, how it points
to Jesus Christ as Savior
00:00:36.60\00:00:40.64
in the sanctuary as the
Lamb and our High Priest.
00:00:40.67\00:00:44.74
Today, for our presentation,
I want to cite a study
00:00:44.77\00:00:48.81
from Michigan State University.
00:00:48.84\00:00:50.91
A team from
Michigan State University
00:00:50.95\00:00:53.98
trained a dozen students
00:00:54.02\00:00:55.92
to inconspicuously
observe and collect data
00:00:55.95\00:00:59.99
on handwashing behavior in
restrooms in bars, restaurants
00:01:00.02\00:01:05.29
and other public
places in a college town.
00:01:05.36\00:01:08.33
In all, 3,749
people were observed.
00:01:08.36\00:01:12.43
After using the bathroom,
00:01:12.47\00:01:14.40
95% of people failed to
wash their hands long enough
00:01:14.47\00:01:20.14
to kill harmful bacteria.
00:01:20.18\00:01:21.88
A new Study finds,
among men, only half use soap
00:01:21.91\00:01:26.85
and 15% didn't
wash their hands at all
00:01:26.88\00:01:29.88
compared with 78%
of women who used soap
00:01:29.95\00:01:33.62
and 7% of women who
didn't wash their hands.
00:01:33.66\00:01:37.09
This is interesting
because Charles Gerba,
00:01:37.13\00:01:40.53
Professor of Microbiology
at the University of Arizona
00:01:40.56\00:01:43.53
swabbed close to 5,000 surfaces
in several office buildings
00:01:43.57\00:01:47.97
with at least 3,000 employees
00:01:48.00\00:01:50.51
and one of the places that
ranked the highest for bacteria
00:01:50.57\00:01:54.31
was the
drinking-fountain button.
00:01:54.34\00:01:57.91
Now, you may ask,
00:01:57.95\00:01:59.55
"Why is it that the
drinking-fountain button
00:01:59.58\00:02:02.28
is to be found one of the
dirtiest places in this building
00:02:02.32\00:02:05.42
well, what did people do
after using the bathroom?
00:02:05.45\00:02:08.39
They go to get a drink
00:02:08.42\00:02:10.76
and so, this microbiologist
actually recommended
00:02:10.79\00:02:14.36
that you pushed the
drinking-fountain button
00:02:14.40\00:02:17.87
not with your fingers
but with your shirt sleeve.
00:02:17.90\00:02:20.94
Now, I want to recite
this study some more...
00:02:20.97\00:02:23.94
the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention...
00:02:23.97\00:02:26.98
the CDC recommends that
you wash your hands vigorously
00:02:27.01\00:02:29.94
using soap and
water for 15 to 20 seconds
00:02:30.01\00:02:33.58
or the time it takes to sing
or hum "Happy Birthday" twice.
00:02:33.62\00:02:37.55
"The CDC says handwashing is
one of the most effective ways
00:02:37.59\00:02:41.49
to cut the spread
of infectious diseases.
00:02:41.52\00:02:44.69
Dirty hands are estimated
00:02:44.73\00:02:46.76
to contribute to 50% of all
foodborne-illness outbreaks. "
00:02:46.80\00:02:52.23
Now, today's study is
not about personal hygiene,
00:02:52.30\00:02:55.90
though this is a good reminder
especially around Flu Season
00:02:55.94\00:02:59.51
to wash our hands
but this study today
00:02:59.57\00:03:03.24
is on the Laver which was
the 2nd article of furniture
00:03:03.28\00:03:07.82
found in the sanctuary
00:03:07.85\00:03:09.18
and it was a place of washing.
00:03:09.22\00:03:12.19
The laver literally meant
in the Hebrew, "to wash... "
00:03:12.22\00:03:16.93
so the priests... in their
daily rituals and routines,
00:03:16.96\00:03:21.60
they would go to this place
00:03:21.66\00:03:23.43
and wash their
hands and their feet daily
00:03:23.47\00:03:26.33
and likely,
multiple times a day.
00:03:26.37\00:03:29.87
Now, the physical washing
also had a deeper spiritual
00:03:29.90\00:03:35.74
significance in the
symbology of the sanctuary.
00:03:35.78\00:03:39.18
In other words,
this physical washing
00:03:39.21\00:03:41.78
represented a spiritual
washing and cleansing from sin.
00:03:41.82\00:03:47.16
So as we look at this Laver,
00:03:47.19\00:03:48.99
we see that it's the
second article of furniture
00:03:49.02\00:03:52.09
that you find
in the sanctuary...
00:03:52.13\00:03:53.66
first you come into
the door of the sanctuary,
00:03:53.70\00:03:56.33
you accept Jesus as your Savior,
00:03:56.36\00:03:59.37
and then Jesus takes
you by the hand and says,
00:03:59.40\00:04:02.70
"Look, I want to bring you
to the water for cleansing. "
00:04:02.74\00:04:06.31
Now, baptism symbolizes
this cleansing process
00:04:06.34\00:04:09.94
but more than that...
00:04:09.98\00:04:11.85
in acuality the
baptism rite and ceremony
00:04:11.88\00:04:15.88
is talking about a
cleansing of the heart.
00:04:15.92\00:04:19.65
The water is a
symbol of that cleansing
00:04:19.69\00:04:22.46
that Jesus wants to
do for each one of us.
00:04:22.49\00:04:25.23
In John chapter 19 verse 34,
00:04:25.26\00:04:28.10
it's interesting that when
Jesus was pierced on the cross,
00:04:28.13\00:04:31.07
one of the soldiers
pierced Jesus' side with a spear
00:04:31.10\00:04:33.80
bringing a sudden
flow of blood and water.
00:04:33.84\00:04:37.97
Blood and water flowed
from the side of Jesus.
00:04:38.01\00:04:42.98
Blood and water are
found in the sanctuary.
00:04:43.01\00:04:46.31
Both blood and water are
required to cleanse us from sin.
00:04:46.35\00:04:50.39
So, you can see that God
brings us into the sanctuary
00:04:50.42\00:04:54.46
to the altar...
there is blood there...
00:04:54.49\00:04:56.83
then He brings us to
the water for cleansing
00:04:56.86\00:04:59.76
and both of these are provided
00:04:59.79\00:05:01.76
because of Jesus Christ.
00:05:01.80\00:05:03.77
In 1st John 1:9, the Bible says,
00:05:03.80\00:05:06.07
"If we confess our sins,
00:05:06.10\00:05:07.74
He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
00:05:07.77\00:05:11.57
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. "
00:05:11.61\00:05:15.54
This verse beautifully
encapsulates this notion
00:05:15.58\00:05:19.51
and this idea that God's
role in the plan of salvation
00:05:19.55\00:05:23.15
is to forgive... that's what
takes place at the brazen altar
00:05:23.18\00:05:27.12
and to cleanse... that's
what takes place at the Laver.
00:05:27.16\00:05:32.33
In other words,
00:05:32.39\00:05:33.73
God is not in the
business of just covering us up,
00:05:33.76\00:05:37.20
He's in the
business of cleansing.
00:05:37.27\00:05:40.34
Now, we've used
this illustration before,
00:05:40.37\00:05:42.80
if you find a
baby naked and dirty
00:05:42.84\00:05:45.57
and there are no parents around,
00:05:45.61\00:05:48.24
what's the first
thing you're going to do?
00:05:48.28\00:05:50.35
You're going to cover that baby
00:05:50.38\00:05:52.21
and then by the grace of God,
00:05:52.25\00:05:54.02
you're going to
give that baby a bath.
00:05:54.05\00:05:57.42
You cover and you cleanse.
00:05:57.49\00:06:00.12
In the same way,
when we come to Jesus
00:06:00.16\00:06:02.62
just the way that we are,
00:06:02.66\00:06:03.99
He covers us with
His robe of righteousness
00:06:04.03\00:06:06.76
and then He says, "I want
to bring you to the water...
00:06:06.80\00:06:10.03
I want to cleanse you
from all unrighteousness. "
00:06:10.07\00:06:13.54
Jesus wants to
forgive and to cleanse
00:06:13.60\00:06:17.17
from all unrighteousness.
00:06:17.21\00:06:19.14
Jeremiah
chapter 33 verse 8 says,
00:06:19.17\00:06:21.81
"I will cleanse them
00:06:21.84\00:06:23.18
from all the sin they
have committed against me
00:06:23.21\00:06:25.95
and will forgive all their
sins of rebellion against me. "
00:06:25.98\00:06:30.69
We are forgiven at the altar...
00:06:30.72\00:06:33.46
we are cleansed at the Laver.
00:06:33.49\00:06:36.19
God is about restoration,
He wants to bring us all back,
00:06:36.22\00:06:39.66
first He covers...
then He cleanses...
00:06:39.69\00:06:42.56
He forgives... and then
He purifies us from all sin.
00:06:42.60\00:06:47.14
Now the question arises,
00:06:47.17\00:06:49.07
"What was the
original Laver made from?"
00:06:49.10\00:06:52.01
Exodus chapter 38 verse 8,
"They made the bronze basin
00:06:52.04\00:06:56.04
and its bronze stand
from the mirrors of the women
00:06:56.08\00:06:59.91
who served at the entrance
to the tent of meeting. "
00:06:59.95\00:07:03.75
It was a donation...
00:07:03.79\00:07:06.25
Moses called upon
the people and said,
00:07:06.29\00:07:08.62
"Look, we want to
make the sanctuary,
00:07:08.66\00:07:10.89
would you give sacrificially
to make it possible?"
00:07:10.93\00:07:14.23
And these dear women got
their precious bronze mirrors
00:07:14.30\00:07:17.57
and gave them to Moses
to build the sanctuary.
00:07:17.60\00:07:21.20
It's interesting because
00:07:21.24\00:07:23.10
the mirror
represents the Law of God.
00:07:23.14\00:07:27.11
The Law doesn't save
us... the Law shows us our need
00:07:27.14\00:07:31.28
and it's interesting that at the
Laver which is made by mirrors,
00:07:31.31\00:07:34.82
you also have water,
00:07:34.85\00:07:36.18
now, when you
go to the restroom,
00:07:36.22\00:07:38.62
you'll find a mirror
and you'll also find water.
00:07:38.65\00:07:42.19
A mirror provides a
moment of self-awareness...
00:07:42.22\00:07:46.80
of self-reflection...
it shows us our need.
00:07:46.83\00:07:49.76
I praise God for mirrors
because there have been times
00:07:49.80\00:07:53.27
that I'd gone through my day
and I think I just looked fine
00:07:53.30\00:07:58.64
and then, I looked in
the mirror and I notice...
00:07:58.67\00:08:03.61
I remember in this one
case, I had a big chunk of olive
00:08:03.65\00:08:06.75
stuck in my tooth,
00:08:06.78\00:08:08.12
and I went
through that whole day
00:08:08.15\00:08:09.98
and no one told me,
00:08:10.02\00:08:11.35
I wish someone
would have told me,
00:08:11.39\00:08:12.72
I had a big
olive stuck in my tooth
00:08:12.75\00:08:14.09
but the mirror did
not provide the solution,
00:08:14.12\00:08:15.92
you know, I put some water
on my finger and took care of it
00:08:15.96\00:08:19.06
so, the mirror provides a
moment of self-awareness...
00:08:19.09\00:08:22.46
of self-reflection...
and shows us our need.
00:08:22.50\00:08:26.03
You know, there are times
in our Christian experience
00:08:26.07\00:08:28.67
or I should say,
prior to being a Christian
00:08:28.70\00:08:31.34
or even in our
Christian experience,
00:08:31.37\00:08:32.77
that we can come to the place
00:08:32.81\00:08:34.68
that we don't know that
we are in need of cleansing.
00:08:34.74\00:08:38.95
There have been times
when I've done visitation...
00:08:38.98\00:08:43.15
I remember in high school,
I went to school in Arkansas
00:08:43.18\00:08:46.22
and in this particular school,
00:08:46.25\00:08:49.59
we would go out and do
Sunshine Bands and visit
00:08:49.62\00:08:52.59
and there were certain
homes that we would go to
00:08:52.63\00:08:55.56
and in a
particular home, I always knew
00:08:55.60\00:08:59.40
that before I entered that home,
I would take a deep breath,
00:08:59.43\00:09:02.64
just ooofsssss...
00:09:02.67\00:09:04.01
because I knew that the odors
and the aromas in that home
00:09:04.04\00:09:07.74
just would be something
that would be just undesirable,
00:09:07.78\00:09:11.75
for lack of a better word...
00:09:11.78\00:09:13.11
and this person that lived
in that home... I found out,
00:09:13.15\00:09:18.72
did not even sense the smell.
00:09:18.75\00:09:21.66
In other words, they had
become so accustomed to it,
00:09:21.69\00:09:24.96
they didn't even know that their
home needed to be aired out
00:09:24.99\00:09:28.06
and sometimes, we can
become so climatized to sin...
00:09:28.10\00:09:33.47
we can become so
accustomed to sin...
00:09:33.50\00:09:35.80
that when God says,
"Look, I want to cleanse you.. "
00:09:35.84\00:09:38.47
we say, "Lord, I'm clean...
00:09:38.51\00:09:40.64
I have no need of cleansing...
00:09:40.68\00:09:42.84
I'm just absolutely fine... "
00:09:42.88\00:09:44.98
and it's only when
we're brought to Jesus
00:09:45.01\00:09:47.62
and Jesus touches our hearts
00:09:47.65\00:09:49.88
and we're able to look
into the Law of Liberty
00:09:49.92\00:09:52.99
which is like a mirror...
00:09:53.22\00:09:54.76
that we sense our need.
00:09:54.79\00:09:56.29
Now, the mirror is
not like a bar of soap,
00:09:56.32\00:09:59.16
it does not clean us up,
00:09:59.19\00:10:01.00
but it shows us
our need of a Savior.
00:10:01.03\00:10:04.00
So, what a
beautiful metaphor here
00:10:04.03\00:10:06.90
that the Laver was
made from the bronze mirrors
00:10:06.94\00:10:11.74
that the women
gave to... to Moses.
00:10:11.77\00:10:14.14
Now, what was
the Laver used for?
00:10:14.18\00:10:16.44
We mentioned this before
but here it is from Scripture,
00:10:16.48\00:10:18.91
Exodus chapter 30 verse
18, "Make a bronze basin,
00:10:18.95\00:10:22.62
with its bronze
stand, for washing.
00:10:22.65\00:10:25.02
Place it between the
tent of meeting and the altar,
00:10:25.05\00:10:29.56
and put water in it. "
00:10:29.59\00:10:31.93
The priests would regularly
wash their hands and their feet,
00:10:31.96\00:10:34.96
it was a regular
form of cleansing
00:10:35.00\00:10:37.23
and this form of
cleansing... physical cleansing
00:10:37.27\00:10:40.60
typified a
spiritual cleansing as well.
00:10:40.64\00:10:44.04
Now, in Psalm 51
verse 2, David says,
00:10:44.07\00:10:47.18
"Wash me
thoroughly from my iniquity,
00:10:47.21\00:10:50.25
and cleanse me from my sin. "
00:10:50.28\00:10:53.21
This was after David
had committed murder...
00:10:53.25\00:10:57.69
killed the husband of Bathsheba
00:10:57.72\00:11:01.19
and then had
committed adultery with her,
00:11:01.22\00:11:04.26
and in Psalm 51,
he senses his need.
00:11:04.33\00:11:08.50
It was after Nathan
came in before him and said,
00:11:08.53\00:11:11.27
"You are the man... "
00:11:11.30\00:11:12.80
and in this text, you can sense
00:11:12.83\00:11:15.74
that David knows that
he is in need of cleansing.
00:11:15.77\00:11:20.38
He says, "Wash me from my sin. "
00:11:20.41\00:11:24.58
I pray that all of us can come
to the place of a realization
00:11:24.61\00:11:28.42
of our spiritual uncleanness
00:11:28.45\00:11:30.82
and we can come to
God just like David
00:11:30.85\00:11:33.19
and be accepted by Him and say,
00:11:33.22\00:11:35.42
"Lord, cleanse me,
wash me from my sin. "
00:11:35.49\00:11:41.16
Have you ever sinned
before and felt dirty?
00:11:41.20\00:11:46.87
I have.
00:11:46.90\00:11:48.40
Have you felt unclean after
making a mistake or sinning?
00:11:48.44\00:11:53.71
Here Jesus provides the solution
00:11:53.74\00:11:56.68
but notice the order in which
Jesus provides the solution.
00:11:56.71\00:12:00.82
He invites us
into the sanctuary...
00:12:00.85\00:12:02.88
we accept Him as our Savior...
00:12:02.92\00:12:04.92
He accepts us just
the way that we are...
00:12:04.95\00:12:07.72
but He loves us too much
to leave us in that condition.
00:12:07.79\00:12:12.23
God wants to cleanse us
00:12:12.29\00:12:13.90
but that cleansing
is not the pre-requisite
00:12:13.93\00:12:18.33
to God's acceptance,
00:12:18.37\00:12:19.70
I praise God that that Laver
00:12:19.73\00:12:21.60
was not placed
outside of the tabernacle,
00:12:21.64\00:12:23.71
now that would have implied
something very differently
00:12:23.77\00:12:26.47
than what we see
here in the gospel.
00:12:26.51\00:12:28.74
If the Laver was placed
outside of the sanctuary,
00:12:28.78\00:12:32.11
it would have implied,
00:12:32.15\00:12:33.48
"Look, before you
come into the tabernacle,
00:12:33.52\00:12:36.08
clean yourself up...
00:12:36.12\00:12:37.45
before you come to
Jesus, get yourself right...
00:12:37.49\00:12:40.52
take care of all these
things, cleanse yourself...
00:12:40.56\00:12:43.56
and then, God
will accept you... "
00:12:43.59\00:12:45.29
but the reality is,
00:12:45.36\00:12:46.70
that the Laver is the
second article of furniture
00:12:46.73\00:12:50.63
not the first...
00:12:50.67\00:12:52.00
you come into the sanctuary...
00:12:52.03\00:12:53.80
you're accepted by God
00:12:53.84\00:12:55.74
and then He says,
"I will cleanse you. "
00:12:55.80\00:12:59.31
Do you know that God loves
you no matter your behavior?
00:12:59.34\00:13:04.95
Now, it breaks His
heart when we sin...
00:13:05.01\00:13:07.78
this is not to say that
00:13:07.82\00:13:09.55
but there is
nothing that you can do
00:13:09.58\00:13:12.89
that will make
God love you more.
00:13:12.92\00:13:16.16
In other words, your
condition and your uncleanness
00:13:16.19\00:13:20.66
is not something
that is a pre-requisite
00:13:20.70\00:13:23.87
to earn the
acceptance and the love of God.
00:13:23.90\00:13:27.00
God says, "Look, I love you
even though you are unclean,
00:13:27.04\00:13:32.77
even though you
are morally deprived,
00:13:32.81\00:13:35.14
I love you... I
invite you into the sanctuary
00:13:35.18\00:13:38.21
to the Savior...
00:13:38.25\00:13:39.75
and then, I will cleanse you. "
00:13:39.78\00:13:42.28
We're going to
take a short break
00:13:42.32\00:13:44.75
but stay with us
and when we come back,
00:13:44.79\00:13:47.46
we will see the
plan of salvation
00:13:47.49\00:13:49.89
and the cleansing
process in the sanctuary.
00:13:49.92\00:13:53.70
Jesus washes us at the Laver.
00:13:53.73\00:13:56.16