Isn’t it interesting that Jesus said: “Repent and believe the good news” to a Jewish audience who thought they were already believers (Mark 1:15).

Repent means: change your mind! What thought or belief system was he asking them to change? Is it possible they had a wrong concept of who God actually is?

In the next few chapters of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus heals the sick, eats with “evildoers,” breaks Sabbath traditions, touches a woman considered dirty and “untouchable,” and blatantly forgives sins.

We know that Jesus represents his father. I believe he is saying: “Change your minds about Dad! You may think he can’t stand to look at sin, but I am staring sin right in the face; healing it, forgiving it, eating with it and touching it!”

God is not allergic to sin. He took sin on with eyes wide open, accepting it, forgiving it and healing us from it!
Amen.