[Dylflon]

The ankh is a symbol for eternal life, not a physical thing he needs to kill Jacob.



My guess is that for some reason or another, he can't kill Jacob with his bare hands and therefore orchestrated a whole lot of shit to eventually use John as a puppet.

I think when the island "spoke to John" in the first season, it was that guy manipulating him. John is always talking about things he is supposed to do and things leading to something and destiny.

Poor bastard has been a pawn all along.

Or possibly he's been visited by both Jacob and Jacob's enemy. Who knows?