Lift It Up

[Rain13]

This is relating to Season 2, but it has to do with what is going on now so I figured it would be better in this forum. When Jack and Kate first enter the Hatch and we're shown the flashback of Jack running through the stadium before performing spinal surgery on that woman, he runs into Desmond who says two things of importance to him. First he says "Lift it up", which made no sense in the context that it was given and, I believe, was never revealed as meaning anything. Jack, I think, asks him what he means and Desmond says something to the affect of "nevermind" and dismisses the question. He then says "I'll see you in another life, brother". Could this have been Des's consciousness travelling back in time to deliver Jack a message? Or am I wrong and did they reveal the meaning of "Lift it up" at some point?

[jacksnurse]

Good catch....yeah...very well could be...what would lift it up...and des is always saying see ya in another life brother...i'm gonna check this out

[Rain13]

I remember waiting to see what he meant by "Lift it up" and then they just never addressed it. It was clearly planted in there and it had to mean something. At first I thought maybe we would see that Jack would have to lift something up in that episode but then when he didn't I just forgot about it. Now that we know Desmond's consciousness is travelling back in time and interacting with the past, this could definately be of significance.

[jacksnurse]

do u think its this simple....i dunno...u got my mind turning now...lol

Jack has finished the surgery and takes a jog in an empty stadium. He notices another man who is jogging up the staircase next to him. Jack tries to catch up to him but rolls his ankle as a result. The man comes to Jack's aid and introduces himself as Desmond. After taking a look at Jack's ankle, Desmond reveals that he was almost a doctor. After Desmond asks why Jack was "running like the devil was chasing him" he discusses Sarah's procedure and how he made a promise he couldn't keep. Desmond wonders out loud whether he actually did save her, but Jack tells Desmond that that'd be a miracle. Desmond leaves with a final bit of advice; "lift it up". He's referring to Jack's ankle.

[lostfan11]

look up "lift it up" on lostpedia it give u all these quotes that the characters have said

[Rain13]

I went ahead and bought the episode on iTunes lol. I will provide a script of what they say when it's done downloading.

[Rain13]

Now you tell me! :mad: :D

[jacksnurse]

yeah and on ekos stick

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6380/3581/1600/ekosticknew.jpg

[jacksnurse]

"Lift it up"
"Lift it up." - Desmond to Jack at the stadium ("Man of Science, Man of Faith")
"Sursum corda" - ("Lift up your hearts" in Latin), on the blast door map ("Lockdown")
"Lift up your eyes and look north" - Eko's stick has Genesis 13:14 inscribed on it ("I Do")

[bunnydixon]

yes i assumed he meant for jack to elevate his ankle but perhaps it had a double meaning....

[LostFreak21]

Maybe it will have to do with something in a few episodes, like to get him out of a situation like Desmond needed Dan to help him.

[Rain13]

Well Lostpedia doesn't give a full script of the dialogue in that scene, so I'll still take a look at that. Also, regarding Eko's stick, that picture you just posted was on Lostpedia and someone pointed out that the full quote is this:"Lift up your eyes and look north - John 3:05". Heading north at a bearing of 305 is of course the way that Ben told Michael to get off of the island and is the way that they say to get off the island in the new Lost video game. Of note, is that Daniel told Frank to travel north at a bearing of 325, which is clearly different. But that's a whole different issue...

[jacksnurse]

actually ben told michael to follow the compass bearing of 325.....the stick and the heli directions say 305

[jacksnurse]

yeah....ooppsss..sorry still on lots of benadryl:)

[Rain13]

Ah ok, so than that would support the idea that Ben was not sending Michael home.

Anyway, I just watched the scene and this is how it goes:

Jack tells Desmond about his patient and how he promised to make her walk again, he says that he has failed. Desmond asks him how he knows he failed, and Jack replies that it would be a miracle for her to walk again given her condition. Jack says Desmond is nuts, and Desmond replies by asking if Jack believes in miracles. Jack laughs. Then this:

Desmond: "Right....Well than, I'm gonna give you some advice anyway." (He looks at Jack strangely and smiles, pausing) "You have to lift it up."
Jack looks at Desmond in silence, puzzled.
Jack: "Lift it up?"
Desmond glares back at him and pauses, he laughs and shakes his head.
Desmond: "Your ankle...You've got to keep it elevated."
Jack laughs and shakes his head, as if to say "ah, so that's all you were talking about."
Desmond stands up and they introduce each other, Desmond then starts to walk off
"See you in another life brother."

The writers are clearly implying a double intendre with "Lift it up". The way that Desmond says "Your ankle" seems as if he is lying about what he meant.

[jacksnurse]

yes...i'll give u brownie points on that one....what did he mean lift it up in re to sara...almost sounds spiritual...

[jacksnurse]

spiritual meaning......???

lift up

What Jesus is here trying to tell us is that those branches which are not producing fruit God will lift up to where they will be able to be fruitful. He will strengthen them and bring them up to where they can receive the light and sustenance. This is supported by John’s use of this word elsewhere. In 5:8, when Jesus told the lame man to "lift up your bed and walk," it’s obvious that he wasn’t telling him to take it away from this place as if bed is what needed to be moved. He was telling him to lift it up from the ground, because he wasn’t going to be lying around anymore. When the Jews "took up" stones to stone Jesus (8:59), they didn’t take the stones away anywhere, they lifted them up off the ground. Also when Jesus "lifted up His eyes" in 11:41, He didn’t take away His eyes, He looked up toward heaven. If John had wanted to signify specifically that God would "take away" these branches there were other words that would have better suited his purpose such as: apairo – I lift off, or exairo – I take away.

Now the meaning of "take away" can be included in the broad meaning of "lift up," but the reverse is not true. In other words, a word meaning "lift up" can be used to speak of taking away something, but a word meaning specifically "take away" cannot be used in reference to simply lifting up. The general covers the specific, but not vice-versa. Therefore, since this word has the broad meaning of "lifting up," it can carry a more narrow meaning at times but only when context demands it.

In this context, Jesus is speaking of the Father strengthening the drooping branch. When we are down and need strength, God comes along and "lifts us up." His point is that God works on both the fruitful and unfruitful branches, so that all may be very fruitful. Notice in verse 16 Jesus tells the disciples that He is the one who chose them and appointed them to go and bear fruit. So since it was not their choice anyway, they have no say in the matter of bearing fruit. God is the one that put them in the vine and God is the one who brings out the fruit.