John was definitely shutting Patchy up so he could tell his friends about him being paralyzed before the crash. The combined facts of his "miraculous healing" and his feelings of a connection to the island, would cause others to look more closely at his actions. It seemed he was a protector of the castaways, a food provider, a warrior from the beginning. However, we have seen his priorities switch from helping his fellow castaways to "serving" the benefactor that gave him his legs back. He had no problem with it "demanding a sacrafice"...Boone. He didn't seem too broke up when it killed Eko either. Him being healed by the island, is similar to a mobster doing you a very big favor. It expects to be repaid.