I find it interesting that the popular opinion for Jamie to have offered himself to LJG is because he has a diminished sense of self worth and that the offer came out of a moment of weakness and fear for Willie's well being. Without the assistance of LJG Willie stood the chance of living a life where he was well taken for despite not having a father. It is just as likely that Jamie's offer to LJG was genuine because Jamie understood the weight of such a request and thought LJG father material
I don’t think it came *entirely* from a semi-diminished sense of self-worth. On the one hand, Jamie trusts John - he is the closest friend he’s had since he left Ian behind at Lallybroch, and they have endured and experienced things together that Ian would never understand. So based on their strong bond of friendship, he’d hope that John would care for Willie.
The fact that Jamie also offers his body to John shows that he is willing to do literally anything for the sake of his son (in exactly the same manner that he was willing to do literally anything for the sake of his wife, and the sake of his unborn child). In case for some reason John didn’t want to care for Willie - despite their friendship - Jamie offered John the only other thing he had: himself.
How many times has Jamie had to offer himself - sacrifice the sanctity of his body - for the sake of those he loves?
He was whipped to save Jenny from Jack Randall, that fateful day at Lallybroch.
He was later flogged by Randall as a result.
He offered his body to be punished, for Laoghaire’s sake, at Leoch.
He allowed Dougal to show off his scars, when they were collecting rents.
He sacrificed his body - and soul - to Randall to keep Claire safe.
He tears out his heart - allows it to die - by sending a pregnant Claire back to Frank.
He turns himself in to the English to save Lallybroch.
He lies with Geneva, who blackmails him and threatens his family
...after all of this, how could he *not* see his body as a bargaining chip?
Only Claire knows just how much it cost Jamie to make John that offer.
But John - the good man that he is - honors the strong bond of friendship between them, and pledges to be a good father to Willie for the boy’s sake - and not (solely) based on who his father is.
However, none of this diminishes the fact that Jamie knows the power that his body holds over others - a power he strongly wishes it did not have, but time and time again which he has (heartbreakingly) used to the advantage of those he loves.
