Wednesday, April 30, 2008

SYMBOLS OF CLEANLINESS FOR THE KINGDOM

CLEANLINESS IN PREPARATION FOR THE KINGDOM

The washings that were used in the Jewish tradition to symbolize cleansing or purity, all a picture of one purifying himself in preparation for the kingdom.
LEPROSY

In the Old Testament, Leprosy was a type of sin and death. Lepers were to be excluded from society, wear mourning costumes, rend their clothes, leave the hair head uncovered, and keep a covering over their upper lip and cry, “Unclean, unclean” (Lev. 13:45). Leprosy is a vivid symbol of how sin will contaminate the whole person and ultimately bring death.

A specific ceremony prescribed for the purification of persons cured of leprosy was given in Leviticus 14, and one part of the ceremony included the cleansing with water:

Lev 14:8

8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.
KJV

THE RED HEIFER

After preparing the ashes of a red heifer, which were used to cleanse from the defilement of death, the priest washed his flesh and his clothes. Defilement from the dead lasted seven days. The ashes were placed in a vessel, where living (running) water was poured upon them; then a branch of hyssop was dipped into the mixture and sprinkled upon the one defiled on both the third and seventh day, after which he had to wash his clothes and bathe his flesh. Death, of course, was the greatest of all defilements (Num. 19).

HAND WASHING TRADITIONS

In the time of Christ, ceremonial hand-washing was very important to the Pharisees. One rabbi is said to have starved in prison during the late Maccabean period because his captors wouldn’t give him enough water to ceremonially wash his hands. Another is quoted as saying, “He who eats bread without hand-washing is as if he went in to a harlot.” Jesus was criticized because His disciples did not practice the tradition (Matt. 15:1-20).

Cunningham Geikie in his book: Life and Works of Christ – 2:203-4; gives a good description of what the tradition of hand-washing was like:

“It was laid down that first the hand was to be washed clean. The tips of the ten fingers were then joined and lifted up so that the water ran down the elbows, then turned down so that it might run off to the ground. Fresh water was poured on them and they were lifted up, and twice again as they hang down. The washing itself was done by rubbing the fist of one hand in the hallow of the other. When the hands were washed before eating they must be held upwards; then after it, downwards, but so that the water could not run beyond the knuckles. The vessel used must be held first in the right, then in the left hand; the water was to be poured first on the right, then on the left hand, and at every third time the words repeated “Blessed art thou who hast given us the command to wash the hands.”
It was keenly disputed whether the cup of blessing or hand-washing should come first; whether the towel used should be laid on the table or on the couch; and whether the table should be cleaned before the final washing or after it”

LIVITICAL DEFILEMENTS, PROSELYTES, AND ENTERING A COVANANT

Alfred Edersheim has an interesting comment about the use of water and washings; in his work – The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, 1:273-4.

“What John preached, that he also symbolized by the rite which, though not new itself, yet in its application, was wholly new. Hitherto the Law had it, that those who had contacted Levitical defilement were to immerse before offering sacrifice.

Again, it was prescribed that such Gentiles as became “proselytes of righteousness,” or “proselytes of the Covenant,” were to be admitted to full participation in the privileges of Israel by the threefold rites of circumcision, baptism and sacrifice-the immersion being, as it were, the acknowledgement and symbolic removal of moral defilement, corresponding to that of Levitical uncleanness. But never before had it been proposed that Israel should undergo a “baptism of repentance,” although there are indications of a deeper insight into the meaning of Levitical baptisms.

Was it intended, that the hearers of John should give this as evidence of their repentance, that, like persons defiled, they sought purification, and, like strangers, they sought admission among the people who took on themselves the role of God? These two ideas would, indeed have made it truly a “baptism of repentance.” But it seemed difficult to suppose, that the people would have been prepared for such admissions; or, at least, that there should have been no record of the mode in which a change so deeply spiritual was brought about.

May it not rather have been as, when the first Covenant was made, Moses was directed to prepare Israel by symbolic baptism of their persons (Gen. 35:2) and their garments (Exo. 19:10, 14) so the initiation of the new Covenant, by which the people were to enter into the kingdom of God, was preceded by another general symbolic baptism of those who would be the true Israel and receive, or take on themselves, the Law from God? In that case, the rite would have acquired not only a new significance, but be deeply and truly the answer to John’s call. In such a case also, no special explanation would have been needed on the part of the Baptist, nor yet such spiritual insight on that of the people as we can scarcely suppose them to have possessed at that stage. Lastly, in that case nothing could have been more suitable, nor more solemn, than Israel in waiting for the Messiah and the Rule of God, preparing as their fathers had done at the foot of Mount Sinai.”

PREPARATION FOR A PRIESTLY MINISTRY

The priests had to wash themselves each time at the laver of brass before they went into the tabernacle to minister. Even more significance can be seen in the high priest’s ministry on the Day of Atonement. Before he ministered he was told:

Lev 16:4

4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
KJV

As a nation of priests they needed a spiritual cleansing before they could minister for Messiah. The spiritual cleansing that John called for is accomplished by the “washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:5) or new birth promised under the new covenant. It was only symbolized by water baptism, but the symbolism would have been something that the Jews understood.
Baptism is one of the ordinances given by God and should be obeyed but does not necissarily make the believer clean.
John 13:10
10 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.
KJV

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