The (Many) Meanings of Eko’s Jesus Stick1
Serious fans of Lost know all about Mr. Eko and his “Jesus Stick,” a rod in which he has etched various Bible verses. However, few know either what it really says or the many meanings of the stick. The following identifies the writing on each side, followed by an analysis of its meanings.
Side 1:
Hab 1:3
John 3:05 (?)
LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND LOOK NORTH
Acts 4:12
Rom 6:12
Gen 13:14
4:8:15:16
Side 2:
23 PSALM
PSALM 144
REVELATION 5:3 (or Revelations :3)
HATETH
Colosians (spelled wrong)
T:4
TITUS:3
Eko’s Jesus stick Analyzed:
Side 1:
Hab 1:3 [Habakkuk 1:3: “Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” A likely reference to Eko’s questions of the good and evil he has experienced on the island.]
John 3:05 [A non-standard way of listing John 3:5: Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” Probably a reference to the baptism episode in Season Two. However, it has also been observed that “John 3:05” was the compass bearing John Locke used in “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead” to find the other station and that Eko always called Locke by the first name John. This also connects with the next phrase about looking to the north.]
LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND LOOK NORTH [Part of the reference from Genesis 13:14, though no English version I have found has this exact phrase; therefore, a paraphrase. As mentioned above, it is also part of Locke’s clues to finding the other station.]
Acts 4:12 [“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Reference to salvation only in Jesus, a redemption Eko looks to during times of trouble. It also contains the Lost number 4, along with a combination (12-4=8) that equals another Lost number.]
Rom 6:12 [“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” A reminder to Eko to live with self-control.]
Gen 13:14 [The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west.” God’s promise to Abram (Abraham) of his future land of inheritance. Likely a reference to when Locke and Eko look north to find the other station.]
4:8:15:16 [Part of the Lost string of numbers, though not a clear Bible reference.]
Side 2:
23 PSALM [Famous Psalm and the name of an episode of Lost.]
PSALM 144 [A 15-verse Psalm of David that speaks of battle and the blessings of those who belong to God. The reference is likely numerical (15) and a reference to battle.]
REVELATION 5:3 (or Revelations :3) [If it is 5:3, then the book is spelled correctly and refers to: “But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.” This clearly refers to opening something, though the analogy is not clear to a specific scene in Lost. Is it the Bible with the film in it? The hatch? Something else?]
HATETH [Is this the King James English word “hateth” as in “one who hates?” This makes sense on the surface and is my preference since I’ve seen no better solution. The problem is that this form is used 30 times in the King James Bible but not in connection with any of these verses. The closest match is Proverbs 13:24: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Is this a reference to Eko’s Jesus Stick (rod)? ‘Hateth’ might also be a reference to the passage John 15 from the Bible and this line: “He that hateth me hateth my Father also.” Incidentally (maybe?) this is the 23rd line of the passage. Another idea is the connection with Psalm 23: “Your rod and staff they comfort me.”]
Colosians [First, Eko spells Paul’s letter incorrectly, leaving out an “s.” Second, no specific verse is mentioned. It’s hard to be clear on a specific reference due to this.]
T:4 [This is the most mysterious biblical reference on Eko’s Jesus Stick. The only matching Bible books are 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus. Of those, only 1 Thessalonians and 1 and 2 Timothy have four chapters. 1 Thessalonians 4 is about living to please God and the Lord’s future coming, including 18 verses. 1 Timothy 4 is about instructions to the young pastor Timothy regarding people who follow wrong teaching and his encouragement to stand strong, including 16 verses (a Lost number). 2 Timothy 4 is about preaching the Word and fighting the good fight of faith, including 22 verses. My personal thought is that T:4 refers to 1 Timothy 4 because: 1) It is a message for a young church leader (like Eko), 2) It is one of only three biblical options, 3) the number of verses matches one of the main Lost numbers.
TITUS:3 [Titus 3 is about doing what is good. It also contains 15 verses, again hitting one of the Lost numbers.]
Additional Notes: There are also a numerically significant seven markings on each side. Finally, what happened to the Jesus Stick? After Eko’s death, Locke kept the stick in his backpack. As noted by one observer, Locke took this backpack into the submarine he blew up and returned without it. The famous Jesus Stick was likely blown up in the blast (That is, if Locke really blew up the submarine.).]
Dillon Burroughs
1 The following is excerpted from the book What Can Be Found in Lost? (Harvest House, January 2008). All rights reserved. back