from my reading: The one among us whom we do not know

a passage for meditation

From Origen’s Answering Celsus [Contra Celsum] V:12†

God in His goodness is present to humankind, not in any local, spatial, sense, but by means of His providence*.  So the Son of God was not only with his disciples at that particular time,  but is also with them always, fulfilling the promise, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

And as a branch cannot bear fruit if it is not living connected to the vine, so the disciples of the Logos, spiritual branches of the true vine, the Logos, are not able to produce the fruits of virtue unless they abide in that true vine, the Christ of God, who is with us here upon the earth.

But while he is with those everywhere who cleave to Him,  he is also with those in all places who do not know Him. This is made clear by John the Evangelist when he quotes the words ofJohn the Baptist: “There stands one among you whom you do not know not; he it is who comes after me‡.” [John 1:26]

† modified from H. Chadwick’s translation

* i.e. the structures and provisions of creation, and the divine economy.

‡ to complete with fire and the Holy Spirit what I have begun with water [Matt. 3:11]