Leap of Faith

Finally, an episode that didn't make my head ache from the flashing lights & high pitched sounds. This was one of my favorite episodes ever. I noticed quite a few religious references once again. The title of this weeks episode was 316, which immediately made me think of bible verse John 3:16:"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

This week we saw the survivors head back to the Island because Ben and Eloise told them that they should. As Ben mentioned, they took a big "leap of faith" that doing this would somehow 'save' them. The 'suicide' letter John left for Jack read "I wish you had believed me." Jack never believed in anything, since he is a 'man of science.' Since Jack took a "leap of faith" and headed back to the island, does this mean he's starting to believe and will have eternal life?

We learned that John sacrificed his life in order to save the island and from next weeks previews we learn that he will be 'resurrected'. Sounds a little bit like the story from the bible to me, not only that but Ben also referenced Jesus' resurrection, as well as the apostle Thomas. Thomas doubted that Jesus could/would be reborn unless he touched the wounds of a reborn Jesus. John's body was 'stored' at Simon's Butcher shop. Simon was also one of Jesus' apostles. Also known as Peter, Simon was the first one to declare that Jesus was the messiah. He was also the one who later on denied Jesus.

When we first saw Desmond back in season two, entering the numbers out of fear that the island would explode or everyone would get sick if he didn't, it looked like some sort of religious ritual to me. Desmond had no scientific proof that anything would happen if he didn't enter the numbers, but he did it for years. He didn't do it because he enjoyed it or even believed in it, he did it out of fear. Not only that, but he was able to convince others to do the same. Now Desmond has turned his back on the Island. He told Eloise (who was perhaps a pastor of some sort?) that he was done with the Island and that she lied to him and told him that the Island was his purpose. He was upset for giving up so many years of his life to it.

Joe and I also had a theory that Ben hurt/beat himself up to 'test' the island and/or himself, to see if returning to the island would heal him and therefore he would be declared "the one." A few seasons back, Ben developed a tumor on the island, which coincided with him losing faith in the island. The verse clearly states his one and only son and there has clearly been some 'rivalry' going on between Locke & Ben.

Eloise told the Jack, Kate & Sun to get back on the plane and to recreate the original flight as closely as they could. Sayid & Hurley also ended up on the flight. Not only that, but Sayid took on Kate's original role, being handcuffed to an officer. Hurley had a guitar this time, as Charlie did the first time. Did they get the same message or was it just a coincidence? I think this points to the fact that the Island (like Eden) is basically a test of/between fate and freewill. When Jack asks Kate how she thinks it (Sayid & Hurley being on the plane) happened, she simply says: "They bought a ticket." (freewill).