After the teaching on the love and joy of those in Christ, a warning is given which reflects various passages in the gospel about the contrast between spiritual light and darkness. The world, that is, sinful men in alliance with demonic powers which are in opposition to God, hates Christ and will therefore hate his followers (Mark 8 :34-38, 10 :39). Christ's followers will be upheld by the Spirit of Christ, the Helper who comes from God and who reveals the truth about God. The Spirit will witness to Christ, as must the disciples. The warning given in 16: 1-:4 is very similar to that given in, which also refers to the up-holding of Christ's Mark 13:9-13disciples by the Holy Spirit in time of persecution.

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