Given Locke’s uncanny knowledge of many things, ‘island’ from an early age, we don’t know if this was his first encounter with Jacob. Or, if ‘the island’ itself spoke to John on some level.

I think it is possible that Locke had two guiding forces throughout his life.

When the Smoke Monster took on Walt’s form to speak to Locke, I believe it was ‘the island’ informing him, that he had more ‘work to do’. I felt this is what made Locke re-focus.

Good thoughts!