What David is before the vision resolves him. The whole vast world - all races, all nations - altogether form David, God's only begotten Son; but when the experience comes you do not see a nation or a race, you see one wonderful lad about twelve years old, and he is your son. Neville draws the ethical consequence, and it is the reason the motif matters: if humanity is one body and you are its father, there is no aspect of your own being you would refuse to forgive. If a hand itches you ease it with the other hand rather than compelling it to stop; if your back itches and you cannot reach it you scratch it against the door, but it is your back. So the whole vast world is his body, collectively one being, personified as David - which is also why he can say that every race and nation of the world will one day look into that face and see the same only begotten son. Kept as a child of the vision motif, which carries the encounter with the lad; this one carries what the lad is made of.