The Laver and sea are typical of the washing of regeneration Titus 3:5; John
15:3; Rev1:5
The Laver is a bowl of water, essentially a place of cleansing. It was made of brass. It was positioned between the altar ( the cross) and the tent, (the Presence of God). It was made from the vanity of Israel, gladly donated mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The laver is the only thing in the whole tabernacle without dimensions as to how much water it could contain. So it was potentially unlimited by God. Water is often used in the Word of God, as a symbol of the cleaning power of the Word itself, of forgiveness. Yeshua said that we must forgive one another seven times seventy times, A DAY! .
The laver represents that forgiveness and cleansing . The Priests were required to wash their hands and feet before entering the tent to minister. This represents the
unacceptability of sin in God's presence and that there must be a cleansing before anyone can enter. The Jewish nation was used to the idea of
baptizing. Israel was turning out in droves to hear John the Baptist, a Jewish prophet, and respond to his message and be
baptized for the repentance of their sins.
The baptism of John was one of immersion. The word baptize itself means - to immerse. That puts the water completely over the person, they are literally buried by it. After the alter, the cross, the death of sacrifice, comes the burial. Yeshua
(Jesus) said, "as Jonah was in the belly of a huge fish for three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth." We too are crucified and buried with Him. We must die to self in order to enter into the place of God's presence. We are cleansed by the washing of the water of the Word of God, and cleansed by the blood of the Messiah, and now take our next step towards the Lord and go into the Holy place. Under the covering of the tent itself.