16 What effect this news has upon me, and what emotion it awakens within my soul? The end I feel is at hand. May it be such as civilization and humanity are entitled to. Up to the present, I have indicted my notes day by day, hence forth it is imperative that I should inscribe them hour by hour, minute by minute. Who knows but what Thomas Roche's last secret may be revealed to me, and that I shall have time to commit it to paper. Should I die during the attack, God grant that the account of the five months I have passed in backcup may be found upon my body. At first, Kurt Cargé, engineer Circo, Captain Spade, and several of their companions, took up positions on the exterior base of the island. What would I not give to be able to follow them, and in the friendly shelter of Iraq, watch the end come in warships? An hour later they return after having left a score of men to keep watch. As the days of this season of the year are very short, there is nothing to fear before the moral. It is not likely that their ships will attempt a nine attack and land a storming party, for they must imagine that the place is in a thorough condition of defense. All night the pirates work, installing trestles at different points of the coast. Six have been taken through the passage to places selected in advance. This done, engineer Circo joins Thomas Roche in his laboratory. Is he going to tell him what is passing, that a squadron is in view of backcup, and that his full greater will be employed to defend the island? What is certain is that half a hundred engines, each charged with several pounds of the explosive, and of the substance that ensures the trajectory, superior to that of any other projectile, are ready for their work of destruction. As the deflagrator liquid, Thomas Roche has a certain number of files of it, and, I know only too well, will not refuse to help Kerkarje's pirates with it. During these preparations night has come on, only the lamps of the beehive are lighted, and a semi obscurity reigns in the cavern. I return to my cell. It is to my interest to keep out of the way as much as possible, for engineer Circo's suspicions might be revived now that the squadron is approaching backcup. But will the vessel sighted continue on their course in this direction? May they not be merely passing on their way to Bermuda? For an instant this doubt enters my mind. No, no, it cannot be. Besides, I have just heard Captain Spade declare that they are lying in view of the island. To what nation did they belong? Have the English, desirous of avenging the destruction of the sword, alone undertaken the expedition? May not cruisers of other nations be with them? I know not, and it is impossible to ascertain. And what doesn't matter after all so long as this haunt is destroyed, even though I should perish in the ruins like the heroic Lieutenant David and his brave crew? Preparations for defense continue with coolness and method under engineer Circo's superintendence. These pirates are obviously certain that they will be able to annihilate their assault as soon as the latter enter the dangerous zone. Their confidence in Rosh's Fulgrator is absolute. Absorbed by the idea that these warships are powerless against them, they think neither of the difficulties nor menace held out by the future. I surmise that the trestles have been set up on the northwest coast, with the grooves turned to send the engines to the northwest and south. On the east, as already stated, the island is defended by the chain of reefs that stretches away to the Brunitas. About nine o'clock I venture out of my cell. They will pay little attention to me, and perhaps I may escape notice in the obscurity, if I could get through that passage and hide behind some rock, so that I could witness what goes on at daybreak. And why should I not succeed now that Kurt Caragé, engineer Circo, Captain Spade, and the pirates have taken their posts outside? The shores of the lake are deserted, but the entrance to the passage is kept by Count D'Artigas' melee. I saunter without any fixed idea towards Thomas Rosh's laboratory. This reminds me of my compatriot.  Perhaps not until the last moment will engineer Circo apprise him of its proximity, not till he briskly points out to him the vengeance he can accomplish. Then I conceive the idea of enlightening Thomas Rosh myself of their responsibility he is incurring, and of revealing to him, in this supreme hour, the character of the men who want him to cooperate in their criminal project. Yes, I will attempt it, and may I succeed in fanning into a flame any spark of patriotism that may still linger in his rebellious soul.  He must be alone, for never does he allow anyone to enter while he is preparing his deflagrator. As I pass the jetty, I notice that the tug is moored and it's a custom place. Here I judge it prudent to walk behind the first row of pillars and approach the laboratory laterally, which will enable me to see whether anybody is with him. When I have gone a short distance along the Sombra Avenue, I see a bright light on the opposite side of the lagoon. It is the electric light in Rosh's laboratory as seen through a narrow window in the front. Except in that particular spot, the southern shore of the lake is in darkness, whereas in the opposite direction, the beehive is lit up to its extremity at the northern wall. Through the opening and the dome over the lake, I can see the stars shining, the sky is clear, the tempest has abated, and the squalls no longer penetrate to the interior of back up. When near the laboratory, I creep along the wall and peep in at the window. Tonish Rosh is there alone. The light shines full on his face. If it is somewhat drawn, and the lines on the forehead are more pronounced, this physiognomy at least denotes the perfect calmness and self-possession. No, he is no longer the inmate of Pavilion number 17, the madman of healthful house, and I ask myself whether he is not radically cured, whether there is no further danger of his reason collapsing in a final paroxym. He is just like two glass files upon the table, and he holds a third in his hand. He holds it up to the light and observes the limpidity of the liquid it contains. I have half a mind to rush in, seize the tubes, and smash them, but I reflect that he would have time to make some more of the stuff. Better stick to my first plan. I open the door and enter. Tonish Rosh, I exclaim. He has not heard, nor has he seen me. Tonish Rosh, I repeat. He raises his head, turns and gazes at me. Ah, it is you, Simon Hart, he replies, calmly, even and differently. He knows my name. Engineer Circo must have informed him that it was Simon Hart, and not Keeper Gayden, who was watching over him in healthful house. You know who I am, I say? Yes, as I know what your object was in undertaking such a position. You live in hopes of surprising a secret that they would not pay for at its just value. Tonish Rosh knows everything, and perhaps it is just as well, in view of what I am going to say. While you did not succeed, Simon Hart, as far as this is concerned, he added, flourishing with vile. No one else has succeeded or ever will. As I conjectured, he is not, then, made known the composition of his deflagrator. Looking at him, straightly in the face, I reply, You know who I am, Tonish Rosh, but do you know in whose place you are? In my own place, he cries. That is what Kerkarje has permitted him to believe. The adventer thinks he is at home in back cup, that the riches accumulated in this cavern are his, and that if an attack is made upon the place, it will be with the object of stealing what belongs to him. He will defend it under the impression that he is the right to do so. Tonish Rosh, I continue, listen to me. What do you want to say to me, Simon Hart? This cavern into which we have been dragged is occupied by a band of pirates, and Rosh does not give me time to complete the sentence. I doubt even whether he has understood me. I repeat, he interrupts vehemently, that the treasure stored here are the price of my invention. They have paid me what I asked for my Fulgrator, what I was everywhere else refused, even in my own country, which is also yours, and I will not allow myself to be dispoiled. What can I reply to such intense assertions I go on, however? Tonish Rosh, do you remember Healthful House? Healthful House, where I was sequestered after Warder Gaiden had been entrusted with the mission of spying upon me in order to rob me of my secret, I do indeed. I never dreamed of depriving you of the benefit of your secret, Tonish Rosh. I would never have accepted such a mission, but you were ill, your reason was affected, and your invention was too valuable to be lost. Yes, had you disclosed the secret during one of your fits, you would have preserved all the benefit and all the honor of it. Really, Simon Hart, Rosh replies disdainfully, honor and benefit. Your assurances come somewhat late in the day. You forget that on the pretext of insanity I was thrown into a dungeon. Yes, it was a pretext, for my reason has never left me, even for an hour, as you can see from what I have accomplished since I am free. Free, do you imagine you are free, Tonish Rosh? Are you not more closely confined within the walls of this cavern than you ever were at Healthful House?  I have only to say the word and all the doors will open before me. This place is mine. Count D'Artigus gave it to me with everything it contains. Woe to those who attempted to attack it. I have here the werewithal to annihilate them, Simon Hart. The inventor waves the file feverishly as he speaks. The Count D'Artigus deceives you, I cry, as he has deceived so many others. Under this name is dissembled one of the most formidable monsters who has ever scoured the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. He is abandoned, steeped in crime. He is the odious Ker-Karage. Ker-Karage, echoes Tonish Rosh, and I wonder if this name has not impressed him. If he remembers who the man is who bears it. If I didn't press him, it was only momentarily. I do not know this Ker-Karage, he says, pointing towards the door to order me out. I only know the Count D'Artigus. Thomas Rosh, I persist in a final effort. The Count D'Artigus and Ker-Karage are one and the same person. If this man has purchased your secret, it is with the intention of ensuring impunity for his crimes and facilities for committing fresh ones, he is the chief of these pirates. Pirates, cried Rosh, whose irritation increases the more I press him. The real pirates are those who dare to menace me even in this retreat, who tried it on with a sword, for circle has told me everything, who sought to steal in my own home what belongs to me. What is but the just price of my discovery? No, Thomas Rosh, the pirates are those who have imprisoned you in this cavern of back up, who will utilize your genius to defend it, and who will get rid of you when they are in entire possessions of your secret. Thomas Rosh here interrupts me. He does not appear to listen to what I say. He has a fixed idea that of vengeance, which has been skillfully worked upon by engineer Circo, and in which his hatred is concentrated to the exclusion of all else. The bandits, he says, are those who spurned me without a hearing, who heaped injustice and ignominy upon me, who drove me from country to country, whereas I offer them superiority, invincible-ness, omnipotence. It is the eternal story of the unappreciated inventor, to whom the indifferent or envious refuse the means of testing his invention, to pay him the value he sets upon them. I know it well, and also know all the exaggerations that have been written upon the subject. It is clearly no time for reasoning with Thomas Rosh. My arguments are entirely lost upon the hapless dupe of Kerkarzane and the accomplices. In revealing to him the real name of Count Jartegus and denouncing to him his band and their chief, I had hoped to wean him from their influence and make him realize the criminal end they have in view. My hope was vain. He does not believe me. And what does he care whether the brickens' name is Count Jartegus or Kerkarzane? Is not he, Thomas Rosh, master of back come? Is he not the owner of these riches accumulated by 20 years of murder and repine? Disarmed before such moral degeneracy, knowing not how I can touch this ulcerated irresponsible heart, I head towards the door. It only remains for me to withdraw. What it is to be will be, since it is out of my power to prevent the frightful denouement that will occur in a few hours. Thomas Rosh takes no more notice of me. He seems to have forgotten that I am here. He resumes his manipulation without realizing that he is not alone. There is only one means of preventing the imminent catastrophe.  Yes, kill him. It is my right. It is my duty. I have no arms, but on a nearby shelf I see some tools, a chiseler, and a hammer. What is to prevent me from knocking his brains out? Once he is dead, I have but smashed the vials and his invention dives with him. The warships can approach, land their men upon the island, demolish back up with their shells. Kerkarzane's band will be killed to a man. Can I hesitate a murder that will bring about the chest-divesmen of so many crimes? I advance to the shelf and stretch forth my hand to seize the chisel. As I do, Thomas Rosh turns around. It is too late to strike, a struggle would ensue. The noises of his cries would be heard, for there are still some pirates not far off. I can even now hear someone approaching and have only just time to fly if I would not be seen. Nevertheless, I make one last attempt to await the sentiment of patriotism within him. Thomas Rosh, I say, warships are in sight. They have come to destroy this lair. Maybe one of them flies the French flag. He gazed at me. He was not aware that that cup is going to be attacked and I have just surprised him of the fact.   He raises his head, shakes it nervously and with a disdainful gesture. What do you mean by your country? I no longer have any country, Simon Hart. The inventor spurned no longer has a country. Where he finds an asylum, there is his fatherland. They seek to take what is mine. I will defend it and woe, woe to those who dare attack me. Then rushing through of the laboratory and throwing it violently open, he shouts so loudly that he must be heard at the beehive. Go, get you gone. I have not a second to lose and I dash out. End of chapter 16. Chapter 17 of Facing the Flag. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Nathine Descartes-Boulets. Facing the flag by Jules Verne. Translated by Casual Hoey. Chapter 17. One against five. For a whole hour I wander about among backcups dark vaults, amid the stone trees, to the extreme limit of the cavern. It is here that I have so often sought an issue, a crevice, a crack through which I might squeeze to the shore of the island. My search has been futile. In my present condition, a prey to indefinable hallucinations, it seems to me that these walls are thicker than ever, that they are gradually closing in upon and will crush me. How long this mental trouble lasts, I cannot say. But I afterwards find myself on the beehive side, opposite the cell in which I cannot hope for either repose or sleep. Sleep, when my brain is in a world of excitement? Sleep, when I am near the end of a situation that threatened to be prolonged for years and years? What will the end be, as far as I am personally concerned? What am I to expect from the attack upon backcup, the success of which I have been unable to assure, by placing Thomas Rock beyond the possibility of doing harm? His engines are ready to be launched, and as soon as the vessels have reached the dangerous zone, they will be blown to atoms. However this may be, I am condemned to pass the remaining hours of the night in my cell. The time has come for me to go in. At daybreak I shall see what is best for me to do. Meanwhile, for odd I know I may hear the thunder of Rock's vulgarator as it destroys the ships approaching to make a night attack. I take a last look round. On the opposite side a light, a single light, is burning. It is the lamp in Rock's laboratory, and it casts its reflection upon the waters of the lake. No one is about, and it occurs to me that the pirates must have taken up the lighting positions outside, and that the beehive is empty. Then, impelled by an irresistible instinct, instead of returning to my cell, I creep along the wall, listening, spying, ready to hide if I hear voices of footsteps. I at length reach the passage. God in heaven! No one is on guard there. The passage is free. Without giving myself time to reflect, I dart into the dark hole, and group my way along it. Soon I feel a fresher air, the salt, vivifying air of the sea, that I have not breathed for five month. I inspire it with avidity, with all the power of my lungs. The outer extremity of the passage appears against the star-studded sky. There is not even a shadow in the way. Perhaps I shall be able to get outside. I lay down and crawl along noiselessly to the orifice and peer out. Not a soul is inside. By skirting the rocks towards the east, to the side which cannot be approached from the sea on account of the reefs, and which is not likely to be watched, I reach a narrow excavation about 225 yards from where the point of the coast extends towards the northwest. At last I am out of the cavern. I am not free, but it is the beginning of freedom. On the point the forms of a few centuries stand out against the clear sky, so motionless that they might be mistaken for pieces of the rock. On the horizon to the west, the position lights of the warships show in a luminous line. From a few gray patches discernible in the east, I calculate that it must be about five o'clock in the morning. November 18th. It is now light enough for me to be able to complete my notes relating the details of my visit to Thomas Rock's laboratory, the last lines my hand will trace, perhaps. I have begun to write, and shall jot down the incidents of the attack as they occur. The light-damped mist that hangs over the water soon lifts under the influence of the breeze, and at last I can distinguish the warships. There are five of them, and they are lying in a line about six miles off, and consequently beyond the range of Rock's engines. My fear that after passing inside of the Bermudas, the squadron would continue on its way to the Antilles or Mexico was therefore unfounded. No, there it is, a waiting broad daylight in order to attack backcup. There is a movement on the coast. Three or four pirates emerge from the Rock's. The sentries are recalled and drew in, and the entire band is soon assembled. They do not seek shelter inside the cavern, knowing full well that the ships can never get near enough for the shells of the big guns to reach the island. I run no risk of being discovered, for only my head protrudes above the hole in the Rock, and no one is likely to come this way. The only thing that worries me is that Seaco, or somebody else, may take it into his head to see if I am in my cell, and if necessary to lock me in, though what they have to fear from me I cannot conceive. At twenty-five minutes past seven, Kair Kariye, engineer Seaco, and captain Spade advance to the extremity of the point where they sweep the northwestern horizon with their telescopes. Behind them, the six stress rolls are installed, in the grooves of which are Rock's autopropulsive engines. Thirty-five minutes past seven, smoke arises from the stacks of the warships, which are getting underway and will soon be within range of the engines. Horrible cries of joy, salvos of whores, howls of wild beasts, I might more appropriately say, arise from the pirate hoard. At this moment, engineer Seaco quits Kair Kariye, whom he leaves with captain Spade, and enters the cabin, no doubt, to fetch Thomas Rock. When Kair Kariye orders the latter to launch his engines against the ships, will he remember what I told him? Will not his crime appear to him in all its horror? Will he refuse to obey? No, I am only too convinced of the contrary. It is useless to entertain any illusion on the subject. The inventor believes he is on his own property. They are going to attack it. He will defend it. The five warships slowly advance, making for the point. Perhaps they imagine on board that Thomas Rock has not given up his last and greatest secret to the pirates. And, as a matter of fact, he had not done so when I threw the keg into the lagoon. If the commanders propose to lend storming parties and the ships advance into the zone of danger, there will soon be nothing left of them, but bits of shapeless, floating wreckage. Here comes Thomas Rock, accompanied by engineer Seaco. On his shooing from the passage, both go to the trestle that is pointing towards the leading warship. Keakariya and Captain Spade are awaiting them. As far as I am able to judge, Rock is calm. He knows what he is going to do. No hesitation troubles the soul of the hapless man whom hatred has led astray. Between his fingers shines the glass fire, containing the deflagrator liquid. He then gazes towards the nearest ship, which is about five miles distant. She is a cruiser of about 2500 tons. Not more. She flies no flag, but from her build I take her to belong to a nation for which no Frenchmen can entertain any particular regard. The four other warships remain behind. It is this cruiser which is to begin the attack. Let her use her guns, then, since the pirates allow her to approach and may the first of her projectiles strike Thomas Rock. While Engineer Serco is estimating the distance, Rock places himself behind the trestle. Three engines are resting on it, charged with the explosive, and which are assured a long trajectory by the fusing matter, without it being necessary to import a trajectory movement to them, as in the case of Inventor-Turpin's gyroscopic projectiles. Besides, if they drop within a few hundred yards of the vessel, they will be quite near enough to utterly destroy it. The time has come. Thomas Rock, Engineer Serco cries, and points to the cruiser. The latter is stemming slowly towards the northwestern point of the island, and is between four and five miles off. Rock nods ascent, and waves them back from the trestle. Kerkareye, Captain Spade, and the others, draw back about 50 paces. Thomas Rock then takes the stopper from the file, which he holds in his right hand, and successively pulls into a hole in the rear end of each engine a few drops of the liquid, which mixes with the fusing matter. 45 seconds elapsed, the time necessary for the combination to be affected. 45 seconds, during which it seems to me that my heart ceases to beat. A frightful whistling is then heard, and the three engines tear through the air, describing a plunge curve at a height of 300 feet, and pass the cruiser. Have they missed it? Is the danger over? No. The engines, after the manner of artillery Captain Chapel's discoyed projectile, return towards the doomed vessel like an Australian boomerang. The next instant, the air is shaken with a violence comparable to that, which would be caused by the explosion of a magazine of millenite or dynamite. Backcup Island trembles to its very foundations. The cruiser has disappeared, blown to pieces. The effect is that of the Salinsky shell, but centipled by the infinite power of Roxville Greta. What shouts the bandits' race as they rush towards the extremity of the point? Kerkariye, engineer Seako, and Captain Spade, remain rooted to the spot, hardly able to credit the evidence of their own eyes. As to Thomas Rock, he stands with folded arms and flashing eyes, his face radiant with pride and triumph. I understand why I abhor his feelings. If the other warships approach, they will share the same fate as the cruiser. They will inevitably be destroyed. Oh, if they would but give up the struggle and withdraw to safety, even though my last hope would go with them. The nations can consult and arrive at some other plan for destroying the island. They can surround the place with a belt of ships that the pirates cannot break through and starve them to death like so many rats in a hole. But I know that the warships will not retire, even though they know they are going to certain death. One after the other, they will all make the attempt. And I am right. Signals are exchanged between them.  One of them, under false droat, distenses the others in her anxiety to bring her big guns quickly into action. At all risks I issue for my whole, and gaze at the oncoming warship with feverish eyes, awaiting, without being able to prevent it, another catastrophe. This vessel which visibly grows larger as it comes nearer, is a cruiser of about the same tonnage as the one that preceded her. No flag is flying, and I cannot guess her nationality. She continues steaming at full speed in an effort to pass the Zone of Danger before other engines can be launched. But how can she escape them since they will swoop back upon her? Thomas Rock places himself behind the second trestle as the cruiser passes on to the surface of the abyss in which she will in turn soon be swallowed up. No sound disturbs the stillness. Suddenly the rolling of drums and the blare of bugles is heard on board the warship. I know those bugle-calls. They are French bugles. Great God! She is one of the ships of my own country's navy, and a French inventor is about to destroy her. No, it shall not be. I will rush to once Thomas Rock, shout to him that she is a French ship. He does not, cannot know it. At a sign from engineer Seiko, the inventor has raised the vial. The bugle sound louder and more strident. It is the salute to the flag. The flag unfurls to the breeze. The tricolor, whose blue, white, and red sections stand out luminously against the sky. Ah! What is this? I understand. Thomas Rock is fascinated at the sight of his national emblem. Slowly he lowers his arm as the flag flutters up to the masthead.  Heaven's above! All sentiment of patriotism is not then dead in his ulcerated heart, seeing that it beats at the sight of his country's flag. My emotion is not less than his. At the risk of being seen, and what do I now care if I am seen? I creep over the rocks. I will be there to sustain Thomas Rock and prevent him from weakening.   Frenchman, it is a very part of France that is approaching you. Frenchman, would you be so criminal as to strike it? But my intervention will not be necessary. Thomas Rock is not afraid to one of the fits to which he was formerly subject. He is perfectly sane. When he found himself facing the flag, he understood. And drew back. The few pirates approached to lead him to the trustal again. He struggles and pushes them from him. K.A. Keraie and engineer Serco run up. They point to the rapidly advancing ship. They order him to launch his engines. Thomas Rock refuses. Captain Spade and the others, mad with rage, menace him, curse him, strike him, try to rest the vile from him. Rock throws it on the ground and crushes it under foot. Then panic seizes upon the crowd of wretches. The cruiser has passed the zone and they cannot return her fire. Shells begin to rain all over the island, bursting the rocks in every direction. But where is Thomas Rock? Has he been killed by one of the projectiles? No, I see him for the last time as he dashes into the passage. K.A. Keraie, engineer Serco and the others follow him to seek shelter inside of backup. I will not return to the cavern at any price, even if I get killed by staying where I am. I will jot down my final notes, and when the French say thus then on the point, I will go. End of engineer Simon Hart's notes. End of chapter 17 The failure of Lieutenant Davin's mission with the sword, the English authorities waited in vain for the expedition to return, and the conviction at length gained ground that the bold sailors had perished, but whether the sword had been lost by striking against a rock or had been destroyed by Keraie's pirates could not, of course, be ascertained. The object of the expedition, based upon indications of the document found in the keg that was thrown up on the shore at St George, was to carry off Thomas Roche ere his engines were completed, the French inventor having been recovered without forgetting engineer Simon Hart. He was to be handed over to the care of their Bermudian authorities. That done, there would be nothing to fear from his full greater when the island was attacked. When, however, the sword had been given up for lost, another expedition of a different kind was decided upon. The time that had elapsed nearly eight weeks from the date of the document found in the keg had to be taken into consideration. It was thought that during the interval, Kirk Harajay might have gained possession of Roche's secrets. An intente concluded between the maritime powers resulted in the sending of five waterships to Bermudian waters. As there was a vast cavern inside backcup mountain, it was decided to attempt to bring the ladder down like the walls of a bastion by bombarding it with powerful modern artillery. The squadron assembled at the entrance of the Chesapeake in Virginia and sailed for the Archipelago which was sighted on the evening of November 17th. The next morning the vessel selected for the first attack steamed forward. It was about four and a half miles from the island when three engines after passing the vessel swerved round and exploded about 60 yards from her. She sank immediately. The effect of the explosion which was superior to any previously obtained by new explosives was instantaneous. Even at the distance they were from the spot where it occurred, the four remaining ships felt the shock severely. Two things were to be deduced from this sudden catastrophe. One, the pirate Kirk Harajay was in possession of Roche's full grader. Two, the new engine possessed the destructive power attributed to it by its inventor. After the disappearance of this unfortunate cruiser, the other vessels lowered boats to pick up a few survivors who were clinging to the floating wreckage. Then it was that the signals were exchanged and the warships started toward the island. The swiftness of them, the Tonant, a French cruiser forged ahead while the others forced their draught in an effort to catch up with her. The Tonant, in the risk of being blown to pieces in turn, penetrated the danger zone half a mile and then ran up her flag while maneuvering to bring her heavy guns into action. From the bridge, the officers could see Kirk Harajay's band scattered on the rocks of the island. The occasion was an excellent one for getting a shot at them before the bombardment of their retreat was begun, and fire was open with the result that the pirates made a rush to get into the cavern. A few minutes later there was a shock, terrific enough to shake the sky down. Where the mountain had been, not but a heap of smoking crumbling rocks was to be seen. Backcup had become a group of jagged reefs against which the sea, that had been thrown back like a gigantic tidal wave, was beating and frothing. What was the cause of the explosion? Had it been voluntarily caused by the pirates when they realized that escape was impossible? The Tonant had not been seriously damaged by the flying rocks. Her boats were lowered and made towards all that was left of Backcup. The landing party explored the ruins and found a few horribly mangled corpses, not a vestige of the cavern was to be seen. One body and only one was found intact. It was lying on the northeast side of the reefs. In one hand, tightly clasped, was a notebook, the last line of which was incomplete. A close examination showed the man was still breathing. He was conveyed on board the Tonant, where it was learned from the notebook that he was Simon Hart. For some time his life was disbared of, but he was eventually brought round, and from the answers made to the questions addressed to him the following conclusion was revealed. Moved to his very soul at the sight of the tricolored flag, being at last conscious of the lesse patrie he was about to commit, Thomas Roche rushed through the passage to the magazine where a considerable quality of his explosive was stored. Then, before he could be prevented, brought about the terrible explosion which destroyed the island of Backcup. And now, Carcage and his pirates have disappeared, and with them Thomas Roche and the secret of his invention. End of Chapter 18 End of Facing the Flag by Jules Verne Translated by Cashile Hoey


Here's Drake London at the bottom of the screen. He is top five most targeted players in the National Football League right now. And it's an interesting player for a chunk game for the Falcons. Now, one player I want to keep an eye on is Cow Pits. He's in the slot. He's going to run this scene release right through the middle of the field. Now, this attracts so many guys on this defense. There's underneath defenders right up front here. All these underneath defenders are attracted by Cow Pits running through, and he affects his safety on the back side as well. So that's four players that Cow Pits attracts on this particular play. Now, what happens here is you're going to get Drake London running this end cut. One thing to notice here is what Drake does in the route. He keeps this route vertical. Now, important for that, he keeps it vertical because he keeps this guy vertical and doesn't leak off the inside. Now, also what he does is once he gets into his route and he's going to catch the footballer here, one thing he does is very smart that a young player doesn't really have. He gets in and he settles in here. He doesn't run full speed in here and runs into this backside safety to run into this safety on this side. He does a good job of sending it down in the middle. So watch at the top of this route here. Now, it's come out. Look how he's keeping it vertical. By keeping it vertical here, it keeps this guy's hips to the sideline. These guys have no inclination that he's coming down into the middle of the field. And now, you see here's Pits coming right through the middle to affect this safety, get his eyes to open up a huge void right in the middle of the field where he's going to catch this football. As the play continues, now watch him come out of this. He's going to come flat. But watch how he settles in the zone here right in the middle of the zone so he doesn't run too far inside where he can't throw it in there and look at him settle right inside. And that's an easy completion. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 yards down the field completion. That is a chunk play. And that is how Drake London continues to be the most targeted player because of things he does in his route as well as outside the route. Well, thank you guys for joining me. I'm DJ Shockley. This is film review powered by Microsoft Surface. And we're going to show you a lot of good plays from Drake London and how he is affecting the game in just two games. Now, here's another instance for Drake London. Drake London is at the top of your screen here. You're going to get motion that comes across. Now, when it comes across, this is what happens. Usually, this is the guy that would have Drake London in man coverage. But because of skiing, because of play design, because of formation, by this motion, it forces everything to bump over. So now, because Brian comes across in motion, now this defender now has to guard the receiver coming outside. And because they're in cover three, he has a deep third. This guy here, who's the flat, is going to cover this third area. And now the guy that Drake's going to run, this little inside hitch route, is off the line back on the inside. Now, this is great design because that's the matchup you want. But what Drake does at the top of the route is really good too. So now you see the distribution. Here's the flat defender going to the third. Here's the other third defender. Now, here's Drake right here in the middle running on this linebacker.  But the important thing is, you've got an outside comeback route. So that means you've got a flat defender that's already out here, so he can't come screaming out of it. He has to sit it down and come out of it slowly. Now, look at this. He knows he's got good coverage. This is really good coverage about his defender. But because Drake turns his head inside and now he works his way back outside, this is a great play and a great ball here. Now he creates the separation. Now look at the separation now. Now he can work out of this. Now he has a chance to catch the football and another chunk gained 13, 14 yards on that game. Great ball, great ball placement and a great route by Drake getting open, finding ways to get open. Let's talk about his touchdown play at the top of the screen here. Drake's first ever touchdown back home in LA, but it's all set up by Kyle Pitts. Here's Kyle Pitts right here in the slot. He's right here in the slot right here. Now he does such a great job of going vertical but also going at the defender. Now, what happens is all Drake is running is a one-step slant and he's coming right down here now. But the work is done by Kyle Pitts right here. He creates the space to get him open. You see, he hasn't made coverage. His eyes are on him. He's gonna go wherever he goes to get off coverage. But this is the guy they're working on. At the snap of the ball, you're gonna see outside release and they get vertical. Now the importance of that is by him stepping at this defender, it forces his feet to stop. When his feet stops and then he gets vertical, it forces his feet to stop again. And now Drake's got this one-step slant and he comes underneath. Now watch it a step, boom. Now look at this, because he went vertical, now this defender has to go, do I go under or do I go over the top? But because this is just a one-step slant, he's already behind Drake on this particular route and Kyle Pitts creates the space for Drake to come underneath. And now look, he's behind. Look how far behind he is and now you just have this one-step slant and look at all the space for him to catch this football and it's an easy walk-in touchdown for Drake's first touchdown as an NFL receiver. And it was all created by Kyle Pitts, his release and getting vertical. Just an outstanding job of Kyle Pitts being the guy that helps Drake London get that first touchdown. When I talk about the nuances of receiver, there's so many things that goes in to helping the guy get open. And as a rookie, you don't see this happen for many guys, but this is why Drake's got 13 catches in just two ball games because of things he does at the line of scrimmage and also in his route. Now he's gonna run a corner out here that gets here, but the most important thing is how he runs it. He's gonna stem inside. By stemming inside, this forces this guy to straighten up and go backwards. When he stems up and then he creates this room, there's so much room on the sideline to go, it makes it such a special route here. As he gets started, watch him stem inside. Boom, you saw that? He comes here and stems vertical. Once he gets vertical, this guy turns his butt to the sideline. So that makes it even harder for when Drake comes out of this, that he can't turn his hips as fast as Drake can't come out of it. Now watch him stay vertical, boom. Now look at, now he wants to come out, he sticks his foot in the ground and look at all this grass that Mariota has to throw this football to over here. It's just an awesome job of Drake creating a space on the outside. And look at the space he creates here at the top of the route. Now he comes out of it. Now look at this. Look at all this room that he's given his quarterback to throw the football and it's another chunk play because of his release. Let's go back to release one more time. Watch him come out of it and watch him stem inside, boom. Oh, that's so important to him. Getting vertical here, forcing his butt to go outside and now he creates room to the sideline. Now it's an easy pitch to catch, wide open. And this is why Drake has caused so many balls in the first two ball games because of the things he does in the route that creates space for him to catch the football. Such a finely tuned rock runner already as a rookie. And this is why Drake learned 13 catches already in the first two games. Thank you guys for joining me. I'm DJ Shockley. This has been Falcon's Film Review, powered by Microsoft Surface.


Our sermon title this morning is depraved denials, depraved denials. And we have come to John chapter 18 this morning to this paragraph from verses 13 through 27. So John chapter 18 verses 13 through 27. Our study of John chapter 18 verses 1 through 12 ended with the Lord Jesus Christ in the garden being wickedly betrayed, arrested, bound, and abandoned in the garden of Gethsemane. Our study today of John chapter 18 verses 13 through 27 now begins with the Lord being led away to a mock Jewish trial in the middle of the night.  The Lord is depicted here humbly, courageously submitting himself to these humiliations in the midst of them perfectly obeying the will of the Father, obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. But why? To what end? Well according to Scripture, what we know of the Bible, all of this was done in fulfillment of the sovereign, triumphant, glorious, and victorious plans and purposes of God the Father for the salvation of his people through the sacrificial and substitutionary death of his son. Peter himself would later describe this series of events during his sermon at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 verse 22 where Peter said, Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did through him in your midst as you yourselves also know, him being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands have crucified and put to death, whom God raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be held by it. Praise God. Jesus Christ would be raised from the dead, the first fruits of all those who would be raised in him. As John works through our narrative in John chapter 18 verses 13 through 27, he draws together now two scenes that are playing out simultaneously. The first scene is the Jewish trial of going on of Jesus, going on inside the palace of the high priest. The second scene is the denials of Peter. These denials prophesied by the Lord and they're taking place outside in the courtyard. First, you have the hostile denial of the Jewish leaders, the rejection of his own people. John had said in chapter 1 verse 11 that he came to his own and his own did not receive him. This is tragically being played out now through this trial. By the end of the night, his own, his own will sentence him to death. And then secondly, you have the tragic heartbreaking denial of one of his own disciples who had just hours earlier professed to be willing to die for him. Depraved denials. In one scene, the fiercest of his enemies. In the other scene, the closest of his friends. One scene depicting the hard-hearted unbelief of rebel sinners hell-bent on denying him. The other scene depicting the heartbreaking weakness that's possible in genuine disciples desiring from the heart to live for him and yet denying him. If we think about this, we think about this scene as it plays here out on the pages of John's Gospel. Both of these are shocking to consider. They're shocking when we stop to think about them, right? And we're going to consider both of them side by side as we work through the passage. This world's hatred for Christ. Hatred in the heart of an unbeliever is often shocking. Here we see it whole-hearted, whole-sold, a whole-sold rejection of the truth, a rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ in order to have their sin, in order to have their way, they're willing to kill the Lord of glory. But it's also shocking. It's shocking, isn't it? The worldly, half-hearted, compromising faithfulness that far too often appears in those can profess to be his followers. A compromising faithfulness that must be repented of if you're truly his. We'll look at both of these. Both of these as we work through the text. First in point one on your notes, we're going to look at the setting. That setting is given to us in verses 13 through 15. The people and the places involved here with our narrative. And then as our narrative switches back and forth between these two scenes, we'll consider point two on your notes, a disciple's denial. A disciple's denial in verses 16 through 18. Then we'll look at this world's denial represented here in the Jewish trial from verses 19 through 24. And then as John does, we'll come back to Peter's final denials in verses 25 through 27. So let's begin by taking a look at our setting, beginning in verse 13. Says in verse 13, after having arrested and bound him in the garden, they led him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas, verse 14, who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. So notice now, beginning in verse 13, after having arrested him, after having bound him in the night, in the garden of Gethsemane, they immediately led Jesus away to Annas first. This preliminary hearing of the Lord Jesus Christ before Annas in the middle of the night begins the Jewish trial of the Lord Jesus Christ. Annas, described in verse 13, as the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now it begs the question to understand our setting, if Caiaphas was the acting high priest that year, then why take him to Annas? Why take him to Annas? Annas was the godfather, so to speak, of the Jewish mob. Annas was the real authority behind the Jewish government, so to speak. Caiaphas served as the Roman governor's choice for high priest, but Annas is the one who ultimately pulled the strings. Annas was extremely wealthy, and he was extremely corrupt. If you remember from John chapter 2 and Matthew chapter 21, Jesus had twice gone into the temple to clear the temple of the money changers, those who bought and sold animals for the sacrifices, and those marketplaces that were wickedly set up in the temple were called the bizarres of Annas. Annas controlled those. Jesus calls them adenophieves. There was corruption, there was cheating. Annas was essentially making his fortune bilking the people of Israel. When the poor would come into Jerusalem to worship, Annas would sell at an astronomically high price animals or sacrifices that would only be acceptable in the temple. What they brought wouldn't be acceptable. There were those who would change money on the temple grounds because the money of the people on the countryside wouldn't be acceptable. They would have to use the money of the temple. Annas was making a killing on the backs of poor people, so becoming rich off the Israelites. Annas also had significant pull with the Roman governors. Annas had five of his sons, Annas son-in-law Caiaphas, all appointed as high priest. He also had significant power in the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the ruling council that here we'll see would eventually determine to crucify the Lord on a trumped-up charge of blasphemy. Now Annas himself had risen to power being high priest in AD 6. And high priests were appointed for life. So it was suspected or assumed that when Annas was appointed to high priest in AD 6, that he would serve for the duration of his lifetime. And so many saw Annas as the legitimate high priest in Israel. But Roman governors, when Roman governors took control as a measure of control over the Jews, Roman governors would come in and appoint their own high priests. And so Annas had been deposed in AD 15 by a Roman governor by the name of Lucius Vitalius. And then Caiaphas was appointed by Pilate's predecessor, Valerius Gratis, in AD 18, AD 18. So these circumstances lead to this interesting scenario in Israel at the time and led Luke to record in Acts chapter 3 verse 2 that both Annas and Caiaphas were high priests when John the Baptist began preaching. And they were both considered high priests as this trial begins. In Acts chapter 4 verse 6, Annas is listed as high priest and presiding over the Sanhedrin. Interesting to consider that passage in Acts chapter 4 verse 6. Peter in John 18 here is going to deny Christ. John, the other disciple as we'll see, is silent throughout the trial. And although both of them, if you think about this, both of them will go back to fishing after the crucifixion. Both Peter and John in just a short time from now in Acts chapter 4 verse 6 are also standing accused before Annas and Caiaphas, just like their Lord. Now why? What were they preaching? Well, it says in Acts 4 they were preaching the resurrection. The Lord Jesus Christ risen from the grave and both Peter and John will see here in weakness. There in Acts 4, 6 with great boldness, the Bible says, they were preaching Christ. It says in Acts chapter 4 verse 13 that when Annas, Caiaphas and the others saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived they were uneducated and untrained men, says they marveled and they realized that they had been with Jesus. Amen, right? Amen. So now in John chapter 18 in verses 13 and 14, Caiaphas had married the daughter of Annas. So Caiaphas was his son-in-law and Caiaphas was high priest that year according to verse 13. So in verse 14 then, Caiaphas then is described as the one who advised the Jews, in verse 14, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. So verse 14 then, a reference to Caiaphas' leadership and specifically his leadership in a meeting of the Sanhedrin in John chapter 11. Turn back a couple of pages with me to John chapter 11. So Caiaphas' leadership in a meeting of the Sanhedrin regarding the raising of Lazarus from the dead that occurred in John chapter 11. Jesus said raise Lazarus from the dead, the rulers or the people couldn't deny. And so the chief priests and the Pharisees were exasperated over Jesus and they gathered the Sanhedrin, the ruling council together to decide what to do about him. Look at John chapter 11 and drop down to verse 45. Then many of the Jews who had come to marry and had seen the things that Jesus did believed in him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things that Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, that's the Sanhedrin, right? They gathered a council and said, what shall we do? This man works many signs. Verse 48, if we let him alone like this, everyone's going to believe in him. And the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. In other words, the relationship between the Jews at the time and the Romans was very tentative. If someone like Jesus Christ came along that was perceived to be a king or a leader among the people, that the Romans hadn't specifically appointed, the Romans could come in, wipe the whole system out and take over, which is essentially what they did in 8070. So the Jews at the time concerned about this were concerned about the growing popularity or the ground swell of support around Jesus, this Jesus of Nazareth. And they were concerned, verse 48, that the Romans might come in and take away both our place and our nation. So verse 49, one of them, Caiaphas, here he is, being high priest that year, said to them, you know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish. Now, Caiaphas was essentially saying in John chapter 11 here, we're not going to allow the Romans to come in on account of this usurping upstart Jew from Nazareth. We're not going to allow them to take our power. We're not going to allow them to take over the nation. We're going to kill this troublemaker from Nazareth instead. And the people and the nation, Caiaphas thought, will be saved. Now we know, the Bible says, Caiaphas spoke better than what he understood. He had his own thoughts in his head, but God using Caiaphas at this point in time knew better. Look at verse 51. Now he did not say this on his own authority, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation. In other words, Caiaphas spoke better than he understood. In verse 52, that's clarified. God's intents, God's purposes, being worked out even through the wicked actions, the wicked thoughts of that wicked high priest, Caiaphas. It says, and not for that nation only verse 52, but also that he would gather together in one, the children of God who were scattered abroad. Understanding all of this though, and Caiaphas going to exploit the Lord Jesus Christ through his death to, they thought, protect himself from the Romans. From that day on, verse 53, they plotted to put him to death. And Judas, we know Judas, played right into their wicked plot. Now they plotted not only to put Jesus to death, you remember the story from John chapter 11, but they plotted to put Lazarus to death as well, Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. That's interesting to note, again, talking about Caiaphas here and who Caiaphas is. Caiaphas was a Sadducee. And so if you know what the Sadducees believed, the Sadducees didn't believe in a resurrection from the dead. They rejected the idea of the resurrection of the dead. And so to Caiaphas, the resurrection of Lazarus was sad, you see. It was a problem for Caiaphas' theology. Caiaphas' own theology challenged by the raising of Lazarus from the dead. And so Lazarus was a direct challenge to Caiaphas' authority as a Sadducee. So in John chapter 18, back in John chapter 18, Jesus is being led away to Annas. And verse 15 tells us that Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. That's very likely here for several reasons in verse 15 that the other disciple is John himself. John had the custom in this gospel as we've learned of not typically identifying himself. So here that disciple, there's good evidence to believe that's referring to John himself. Additionally, we know that quote, unquote, that disciple was with him at the cross. Flip one page to the right and look at John chapter 19. And look at verse 25, John chapter 19 verse 25. Now they're stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister Mary, the wife of Clopis and Mary Magdalene. And when Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved, we know that to be John, standing by, he said to his mother, woman, behold your son. Verse 27. Then he said to the disciple, behold your mother and from that hour, that disciple. Same kind of phrasing, right? Same kind of word, same kind of reference. From that hour, that disciple took her to his own home. So verse 15 explains that or gives us reference that this is referring to John himself. Verse 15 also explains that because he was somehow known to the high priest, John was allowed access into the courtyard as the hearing began. So John is let in because of his knowledge or the high priest knowledge of John. They knew each other. And then of course, in John chapter 18 here, there's Peter. John records in verse 15 that Simon Peter followed Jesus. The synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke all record that not only did Peter follow Jesus, but Peter followed Jesus at a distance. Followed him at a distance. Although Peter had been right next to Jesus virtually all night long. Here it says he followed at a distance. There's a sense. There's a sense, isn't there? In which Peter followed him at a distance all night long in his heart, right? He's not humbled in the upper room as the Lord stooped to wash his feet. We saw that as we covered that. He's overconfident at the supper in chapter 13 verse 37 saying that he was ready to die for Christ. Rather than praying, rather than faithfully keeping watch in the garden, Peter's sleeping. When he should have been submitting to the Lord in the garden to a purpose and an intent that the Lord had clearly communicated, Peter impulsively pulls his sword to fight.  And we're going to see the dreadful results of this from Peter in this passage. So as we consider Peter here, a tragic account in John 18 that begs the question of you and I this morning, are you following him at a distance? Are you following him at a distance? At least Peter was following him. At least Peter was following, but here he follows Christ at a distance. If you're committed to him, if you've professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, if you're saying I'm a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, then don't follow Christ at a distance. Cling to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. Peter may have thought that it was safe for him to trail back and Peter here is in danger. He, the Lord Jesus suffered for you and I outside the gate. As Hebrew says, let us therefore go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach and let's suffer with him. Don't follow Jesus Christ at a distance. Is your heart far from him this morning? Are you cold or indifferent toward the things of God? Far from his purposes, far from his intentions for you. Maybe for a while you've been following and you feel as though your steps are simply out of step with the Lord out of step with his will. Are you following him at a distance? Are you trailing behind him? Unwilling to draw near to him. Unwilling or cold or indifferent toward him.  You are in danger. You're in danger. You're weak and you're in trouble. You're setting yourself up for the same kind of tragic failure that we see from Peter here in John chapter 18. What does the Bible say? What does James say? James says, draw near to him and he will draw near to you. Don't trail him at a distance. He will surely fall. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, purify your hearts. You double-minded, lament and mourn and weep. Now in repentance, I'm sure Peter would like this to do all over again, right? What we know of him, if you don't repent now like Peter, you may find yourself weeping bitterly later after a horrible denial. So we see here in this initial phase of Peter's denial, we see this in point two on your notes, a disciples denial, beginning in verse 16, a disciples denial. John went in with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. It says in verse 16, but Peter stood at the door outside keeping his distance, right? Not willing to get too close. Then the other disciple who again was known to the high priest, he went out and spoke to her who kept the door and brought Peter in. This is the second time in as many verses that John mentions that he was known to the high priest. One mentioning that explains their entrance into the courtyard and that's important because Peter and John were eyewitnesses to this. Secondly, it shows there's no immediate hostility here. There's no immediate threat to John or to Peter by going into the courtyard. The leaders have the man they want. They've arrested the Lord Jesus Christ and there's no immediate hostility or threat here to John or to Peter. The high priest and presumably those who serve in the palace, they know John. And so without threat, without fear of reprisal to either John or Peter, John simply goes to the door, speaks with a servant girl who kept the door and asked that Peter be allowed to come in with him. And then Peter is allowed to enter the courtyard with John. So as Peter then steps through the door to follow John into the courtyard, verse 17, the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, you're not also one of this man's disciples are you? And Peter said, I am not. Her use of the word also in verse 17 would indicate that she knew that John was a disciple. John goes through, she turns to Peter, are you not also one of this man's disciples? You're not also one of this man's disciples are you? The way that she asked the question in verse 17 expects a negative answer. So the slope is greased, so to speak. If you would be inclined to give a negative answer to the question, there was a temptation here to say no. But there's no threat here. There's no pressing hostility. She's a young servant girl keeping the door in verse 17. She didn't ask Peter if he was planning to cut off any more ears. She didn't ask Peter if he was an enemy of the high priest going to cause trouble in the courtyard. She simply asked the question in verse 17. But it's a question that has a tone to it, doesn't it? A tone of this disapproving identification. You're not also one of this man's disciples are you? Now in Peter's defense, he had just been through the arrest of Jesus in the garden. For all he knew he could be next. Of all the others that fled, Peter here has the courage to follow, albeit at a distance. And he follows Jesus even into the courtyard of the high priest. It took courage. It took courage to pull his sword in the garden. Misplaced courage, right? Fleshly courage, but courage nonetheless. Peter is no shrinking violet. Peter would be considered one of the strongest of the Lord's disciples. Peter took a stand to follow Christ when Nicodemus would only talk to him by night, right? Peter left all to follow Christ when the rich young ruler went away sorrowful. Wouldn't give up anything to follow Christ. And it was Peter who was always boldly speaking up. And I think here in the courtyard, it's more love for the Lord than mere curiosity that has Peter here that's gotten into this point. Peter loved the Lord and you want to root for him, don't you? So we read the passage. You want to root for him. Peter bears reproach, brother. Don't deny him. But how does Peter answer the servant girl? He said in verse 17, I am not. I am not a devastating, depraved denial. Listen to John Calvin. At the voice of a single maid and that voice unaccompanied by threatening. He is confounded and throws down his arms. Such is a demonstration of the power of man. Certainly all the strength that appears to be in men is smoke, which a breath immediately drives away. When we are out of the battle, we are too courageous. But experience shows that our lofty talk is foolish and groundless. And even when Satan makes no attacks, we contrive for ourselves idle alarms, which disturb us before the time. The voice of a feeble woman terrified Peter. And what is the case with us? Do we not continually trembling at the rustling of a falling leaf? A false appearance of danger, which was still distant, made Peter tremble. And are we not every day led away from Christ by childish absurdities? In short, our courage is of such a nature that of its own accord, it gives away where there is no enemy. And thus does God revenge the arrogance of men by reducing fierce minds to a state of weakness. A man filled not with fortitude, but with wind, promises that he will easily obtain victory over the whole world. And yet no sooner does he see a shadow of a thistle than he immediately trembles. Let us therefore learn not to be brave in any other than the Lord. In this account in John chapter 18, we have a gracious warning from the Lord. It comes at the expense of Peter, but we have a gracious warning, a good and gracious rebuke to all of us in the example of Peter. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Let us learn not to be brave in any other than in the Lord. I want to give you this morning from Peter's denial here, four principles, four principles from the example of Peter. So we look at this text, four principles from the example of Peter. The first is this, tolerate no confidence in the flesh. Tolerate no confidence in the flesh. Peter was among the strongest, certainly the boldest of the Lord's disciples. And it was Peter who fell. Why? Fleshly confidence, fleshly confidence. Rather than faith and reliance in the strength and might of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, Peter was given over to rash boldness, fleshly confidence. Turn with me to Luke chapter 22. Luke chapter 22, let's see Peter here in action. Tolerate no confidence in your flesh. Pour contempt on your pride. Luke chapter 22 and drop down to verse 31. When we are out of the battle, as Calvin said, we are too courageous. We are easily overconfident, but experience shows us that our lofty talk is foolish, is groundless. And Peter here not filled with fortitude, but filled with wind. Look at verse 31. The Lord said, Simon, Simon indeed, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat. That should have terrified Peter. And immediately Peter should have dropped to his knees in prayer, crying out to God, right? Verse 32, but I have prayed, the Lord has prayed for you that your faith should not fail. And when you've returned to me, strengthen your brethren. But Peter said to him, verse 33, Lord, I am ready to go with you, both the prison and to death. And then he said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny me three times that you know me. Look over at Mark chapter 14. Mark chapter 14 and look down at verse 27. Mark chapter 14 verse 27. Such confidence in his own strength, right? Such fleshly confidence. Such confidence here in Mark chapter 14 that he sleeps in the face of these circumstances. Mark chapter 14, look at verse 27. Jesus said to them, all of you will be made to stumble because of me this night. Ford has written, I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee. Peter said to him, verse 29, even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.  But Peter spoke even more vehemently.  And they all said likewise. Look at verse 32. They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, sit here while I pray. And he took Peter, James, and John with him. And he began to be troubled, deeply distressed. And he said to them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch. He went a little farther, fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will. And then he came and he found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. And again, he went away and prayed and he spoke the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again. For their eyes were heavy and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, are you still sleeping and resting? It's enough. The hours come. Behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand. When he should have been resting in the Lord's strength, right? When he should have been watchful, when he should have been considering his circumstances and considering the gravity of the situation, he would have been praying. He would have been as the Lord was pouring out his heart. But Peter grossly, grossly miscalculated the trial. We have a tendency to do the same thing. You and I, in our flesh, with our hearts that are deceitful, desperately wicked above all things, we have a tendency to miscalculate the weight or the seriousness of the trials that come upon us. We, like Peter, can be overly rash or overly confident, shown in our comfort, demonstrated in the fact that we would sleep rather than pray. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh indeed is weak. It's easy to misjudge or miscalculate a trial you've not been through, right? What took Peter down? Back in John chapter 18. What took Peter down? It was the question of a servant girl who kept the door. I think about this for a moment. The strength of men is smoke. What took Peter down? It was the question of a servant girl who kept the door. One said, when Peter stumbles, he stumbles so shamefully at the first step, the foolishness of all his boasting is exposed. Let us therefore learn not to be brave in any other than the Lord. John said in John chapter 15 verse 5 that apart from me, you can do nothing. Apart from me, you can do nothing. This is so fundamental to the Christian life. This is Christianity 101. The glory for the victory belongs to the Lord. You have no strength in and of yourself. You are weak. You must rely on his strength. Boast rather in your infirmities. Boast rather in your weakness. Boast in the Lord, but don't boast in yourself. Victory in the Christian life only comes by the power of his might. Victory, if you think about it, victory in the Christian life comes in the same way that salvation does. It comes by grace through faith. His grace through the faith that he's given you by grace through faith. Consider just a few examples of many in the Bible. Listen to Isaiah chapter 40 verses 25 to 31. Isaiah chapter 40 verses 25 to 31. To whom then will you liken me? Or to whom shall I be equal? Says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these things. Who brings out their host by number. He calls them all by name by the greatness of his might and the strength of his power. Not one is missing. Why do you say, oh Jacob and speak? Oh Israel, my way is hidden from the Lord and my just claim is passed over by my God. Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator, the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak and those who have no might, he increases their strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Praise the Lord. It's the Lord who is our strength. It's the Lord in whom we put our trust. It's the Lord on whom we rely.   Rely, put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. When David prayed in 1 Chronicles 29 to consecrate gifts for the building of the temple, he said, yours, oh Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty for all that is in heaven and in earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, oh Lord, and you are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from you and you reign over all. In your hand is power and might. In your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Why do we persist in such a faithless exercise of our own strength, our own might when the Lord is the one who gives strength? The Lord is omnipotent. Paul prays for believers in Colossians chapter 1 verse 9. He prays for them that you may walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might according to your own power? No, according to his glorious power for all patience and long suffering with joy. The battle is the Lord's. The battle is the Lord's. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, amen. His grace is sufficient for us. My strength is made perfect in weakness, God says. Therefore boast in your weakness, boast in your infirmities. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 26. You see your calling, brethren that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty and the base things of the world, and the things which are despised, God has chosen and the things which are not to bring to nothing the things that are so that no flesh should glory or no flesh should boast in his presence, but of him you are in Christ Jesus who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. That, as it is written, he who glories or he who boasts, let him glory, let him boast in the Lord. Tolerate no confidence in the flesh. Tolerate no confidence in the flesh. Maybe you're here this morning and you don't know Christ. You've never turned from your sin to follow him. You will not do it by your own strength. It will not be by your works that you are saved. It will be by faith in Christ. Turn from your sin and trust him with the power to turn from your sin. Repent, mourn your wicked, deplorable, detestable condition. You have sinned against your Creator. Mourn your state and turn to Christ in faith. Trust him to grant you repentance. Trust him to strengthen you. Trust him to give you faith and follow your Creator. Follow Christ and be saved. You'll not do it in your own strength. It won't be by your works. You will not have any of the glory. You will not be able to boast. Turn to him. God is the one who saves. Humble yourself before him. Otherwise, if you don't humble himself, all of your strength, all of your pride, all of your boasting is like smoke. You're like chaff. And you're blown away in the wind of God's judgment. You're blown away in the wind of God's wrath. All of your boasting means absolutely nothing. It is a vapor. Trust the Lord and be saved. Turn to him. Put your faith in Christ. Tolerate no confidence in your flesh. Your flesh is sinful. Your heart is deceitful. Desperately wicked. Poor contempt on your pride and bow the knee to Christ. Secondly, exercise faith independence upon God. These are four principles from the example of Peter. Secondly, exercise faith independence upon God. How is it that brother and sister in your Christian life, how is it that God is glorified? God is glorified in your Christian life by grace through faith. By grace through faith. We deserve his wrath. We are unworthy of his goodness toward us. He could have condemned us as fallen men, just like he condemned fallen angels, but he didn't do that. Instead, he gave us grace and he gave us mercy in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have turned from your sin to follow him, he's been gracious to you. He's been merciful to you in Christ. We would have nothing of salvation, nothing of joy, nothing of life apart from grace. Now God's people, God's people are dependent upon God's power in every exercise of that grace. You hear that? God's people are dependent upon God's power, God's might, God's strength in every exercise of that grace, the salvation of our soul, right? The changing of our heart, the renewing of our mind, the subduing of our sin, the putting on of the new man, the putting off of the old man, the producing of obedience, the producing of good works, the fruits of the spirit being conformed into the image of his son, all of that, all of it. We are dependent upon God, dependent, entirely dependent upon God's power in every single exercise of God's grace. Apart from him, you can do nothing, absolutely nothing. It follows then, doesn't it? That the one on whom we are dependent for everything should be the object of our undivided, uncompromising devotion, reliance, trust, and faith. Faith declares, faith declares that I can do nothing. Faith declares that I can do nothing. True faith humbles me. True faith abases me and exalts God alone above all. Boyce, in his commentary on John, raises the question regarding the events in the garden. If we were to pick someone, Boyce would ask, that night who, in our opinion, least needed to pray, who would it be? Lord Jesus Christ. If we were to pick that night in the garden, in our opinion, the person who needed most to pray, who would it be? Peter, Peter, and yet Peter is the one sleeping in the garden while the Lord Jesus Christ, sinlessly perfect, pours out his heart and soul to God the Father in prayer. Preparing for the events that would come upon him. Peter was thoroughly and clearly warned. And Peter was told to watch and pray. And like Peter, like Peter, you and I were warned over and over and over again from the pages of scripture. Are we not warned? And some of you are asleep. Some of you are asleep. You think about the dangerous environment in which we live, the dangerous circumstances, this dangerous culture, everywhere you turn, there's temptation to sin. Everywhere you turn, and we are commanded, we're commanded, aren't we, from scripture to pray unceasingly. Why? Because everywhere we turn, there's temptation to sin against the Lord. We can't do anything in our own strength. How do we express our faith? How do we express our trust? How do we have access to that grace in which we stand? We're to pray. We're to put our faith in Christ. We're to trust Him for those things. And yet many professing Christians today sleepwalk through their Christian life. We're to search His word diligently. We're to submit to His teaching. We're to obey His commands. We're to look out for one another. We're to love our brother, love our sister. Many professing Christians today are asleep. They need to wake up, wake up. If this is you, wake up, wake up. We're being warned again from the example of Peter. They don't devote themselves to prayer because ultimately they don't think that it's necessary. They ultimately, that's what you're doing. If you're someone who doesn't devote themselves to prayer, you're saying prayer's not that important. I can do without it. You're the one who, in passing, over the lips, through the gums, look out, stomach, here it comes. Thank you, Lord, for my food. If that's your prayer life, you're not trusting the Lord. You're not relying on the Lord.   Christians are to depend upon Christ by faith. That's expressed in prayer, right? They don't spend time devoted in the study of God's word because ultimately they don't believe that it's important. They don't believe that it's necessary. I'll read a little here. I'll read a little there quickly because I can't spend too much time doing that. You just don't believe that it's that important. They don't obey God's word. They don't put off sin. They don't put on righteousness. They're not striving after godliness, exercising themselves toward godliness. Why? Because ultimately they don't think that that's important. They don't think that it's necessary. They're sleeping. They're following the Lord Jesus Christ at a distance and they're slumbering through their so-called Christian walk. And if you don't repent, like Peter does here, if you don't repent, you will perish.  They don't think it's that pressing of a matter. But do you want to know, oh foolish man, that faith without works is dead. Faith without works is a dead faith.  Like Peter, repent of your faithlessness. Repent of your faithlessness. And through faith, place yourself in dependence upon God. Otherwise, otherwise, if you don't, you may wake up from your slumber one day in hell. Only to find that your so-called faith was grounded on the shifting sands of self-reliance, self-confidence, your own strength. And when the storm of God's judgment comes, you will not stand in your own strength.  You'll find in that day that your faith, your belief, so to speak, your trust was no better than that of demons. And the demons believe and they believe and tremble. They fear that day. Paul says in Ephesians chapter six, verse 14, Paul says, stand therefore. Having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace above all. Verse 16, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Listen, the opposite of that is true. If you do not above all take the shield of faith, you will not be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. You will be overcome by them. Take the helmet of salvation, Paul says, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful. Do you hear these exhortations to Peter in this passage, right? Pray and watch, watch and pray, being watchful to this end, with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. One, tolerate no confidence in the flesh. Two, exercise faith and dependence upon God. Three, third principle from the example of Peter, repent of your sin and follow Christ, repent of your sin and follow Christ. Luke records that as Peter denies Christ for the third and final time, immediately Luke says while he was still speaking, while the words were coming out of Peter's mouth, the rooster crowed. Luke says that at that moment, the Lord turned and looked at Peter. They had eye contact in that moment. And Peter remembered the words of the Lord and it says that Peter went out and wept bitterly. You can imagine, right? That event, that occurrence, that eye contact, that remembrance just shredded Peter's heart, absolutely shredded Peter's heart. But the Lord sees you too, and he sees me. All our many denials, all those seemingly insignificant acts of betrayal. You remember from our study of John chapter 18 verses one through 12, we also read there that Judas was remorseful. That he was sorrowful, it says, for having betrayed innocent blood. What distinguishes the worldly sorrow of Judas from the godly sorrow of Peter? What distinguishes the two, right? 2 Corinthians chapter seven says that worldly sorrow does not produce repentance, at least the death. Godly sorrow produces a repentance, not to be regretted, leads to life. What is the distinguishing factor between those two? It's fruit, it's fruit. The fruit of Judas's worldly sorrow is that Judas in worldly despair over sin went out and hung himself.  The fruit of Peter's godly sorrow was a reinvigorated commitment to serve the Lord. That was evidenced by Peter's diligence, Peter's zeal in preaching the gospel. Peter continued to serve the Lord. We'll talk more about Peter's repentance as we get to point four on your notes. So we're talking about four principles from the example of Peter. One, tolerate no confidence in the flesh. Two, exercise faith and dependence upon God. Three, repent of your sin and follow Christ. Four, pursue, pursue wholehearted, uncompromising commitment to Christ. Pursue wholehearted, uncompromising commitment to Christ. We see a great need for this kind of sold out commitment to Christ and where we find Peter at two points in our narrative. First, in verse 15, we know from the synoptics that Peter followed Jesus at a distance. Secondly, in verse 18, we find Peter warming himself around the fire with the enemies of Christ. So first, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record that Peter followed the Lord at a distance. Count the cost, right? Count the cost and then commit by grace through faith to cling to Christ and follow through. Peter probably thought it was safest to follow at a distance, but considering these wretched denials, he would have been far safer to be right next to Christ. He would have been more exposed there, right? Mind you, the Christian has not promised safety and comfort, but it was far more dangerous for Peter to be following at a distance. He was in great danger. His exposure would have been greater to be close, but the danger would have been less. That's the Christian life. That's the Christian life. That's what you signed up for, right? You count the cost to follow Christ. That's the Christian life. So you preach the gospel.  Your comfort, your reputation more than Christ. And you preach the gospel.  You deny yourself. And as a Christian, you expose yourself. You go forth to him outside the camp and you bear his reproach. Peter's professed Christianity didn't go far enough here. It didn't go far enough. And Peter repented of that. Peter repented of that. It was something that Peter wept bitterly over and he went out and went on to bear fruits worthy of repentance. Eventually he gave his life for Christ. But secondly, we see Peter in a very compromised position in John chapter 18, verse 18. Look at verse 18. Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coal stood there for it was cold and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself. So in verse 18, the servants and the officers there, these are those in verses three through 12 who came out with weapons and clubs to arrest and to bind Jesus. These are the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ, the servants and officers of the temple guards, servants of the high priest. And it's cold. It's the middle of the night. And so they built a fire to warm themselves while the trial begins inside. So when John 18 opens, Peter is described as standing in the garden with Christ. Peter is in the garden of Gethsemane with Christ. Even one of the servants of the high priest in verse 26 makes that point. He says in verse 26, one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off said, did I not see you in the garden with him? In other words, with Jesus. But as we come to verse 18, where's Peter? He's warming himself by the fire with them, with the Lord's enemies. And Peter stood with them and warned himself. Judas is described in verse five as standing with them. Peter is described in verse 18 as standing with them. Now for those that discern the danger, you wanna cry out, don't you? Peter, get away, get out of there. What are you doing? But where are Peter's loyalties here? Where is his devotion to the Lord? Look at where his lack of commitment has gotten him. Matthew Henry said, those that warm themselves with evil doers grow cold toward good people and good things. And those that are fond of the devil's fireside are in danger of the devil's fire. After Peter had sinned and denied the Lord the first time, there was no repentance, there was no remorse, there was no change of action, there was no stand for righteousness, no stand for Christ. And once that first compromise took root, whatever Peter's excuse was in his own mind for why he did it, it became easier to continue the compromise. Do you see? The Lord was being afflicted. Peter is trying to make himself comfortable.  You can't comfort yourself in the company of the ungodly or you will grow cold toward good things and good people. Take a stand for Christ. If you compromise devotion to the Lord or you compromise devotion to the Lord's church, you compromise devotion to the Lord's people, compromise devotion to the Lord's work, and you will soon find yourself siding with the wicked. We've seen that happen time and time and time and time and time. Again, it's like the word of God is true, amen? You will find yourself siding with the wicked. You'll find yourself cold toward the things of God, like Peter, Peter standing here with the enemies of God. Psalm one says this. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful. Peter here taking a walk with the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ, standing around the fire, warming himself with the enemies of the Lord, compromising. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful. If you're around someone who is an ungodly influence on you then like we would with Peter, we would cry out to you, get away from them, what are you doing? Where are your loyalties? Where are your devotions? Do you not realize that you are in danger? Get away. Paul says that bad company corrupts good morals, right? Ruins, wrecks good morals. You will grow cold toward the things of God trying to warm yourself with their friendship, warm yourself with their company. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night. If your delight is in the law of the Lord then how long will you be able to in comfort cohabitate with those who are breaking it? Give yourself over to them as if you are one of them like Peter does here. Peter's not evangelizing, those guys are on the fire. Is he? He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper. In other words, the one who plants himself by that wicked river of ungodliness, those who deny the Lord, who refuse his word will find himself withering, will find himself fruitless, whatever he does shall not prosper. Verse four, but the ungodly are not so. They are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous for the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 22 had said that Satan had asked permission to sift Peter's wheat. What was the Lord's response? The Lord himself prayed, prayed for Peter that his faith would remain. The Lord knows how to keep those who are his, right? And the Lord will preserve them in his own strength, in his own power, in his own might. Don't go walking away from the Lord. Don't follow at a distance, cling to him by faith. Don't stand at the fireside with those that reject the Lord or reject his word. Cling to Christ. He knows how to keep you. He knows how to preserve you. He knows how to care for you and praise the Lord. We see in the example of Peter that the Lord granted graciously, mercifully, granted repentance and faith to Peter. We see Peter restored to faithfulness, to usefulness in the Lord's ministry and the Lord's work. That's you today. If you've been walking at a distance, if you've failed to hold him tightly, if you've not plugged in, sold out, if you've been in compromising circumstances and failed, even as Peter has done here, the Lord is gracious, the Lord is merciful. If you will turn from your sin and put your faith in Christ, he'll restore you to himself. All praise, honor, and glory be to him who strengthens and preserves us in the way everlasting. Amen, amen, let's pray. Father in heaven, what we praise you and we thank you, Lord, for your preserving grace. Thank you, Lord, for the grace and the faith that you've given us that we need to persevere and following after you. I pray, God, that you would be honored, that you would be glorified in our repentance, in our faith exercised in your name and your strength, Lord, as we depend upon you and rest in you and trust in you to live this Christian life.  Spirit of God, we need you, Lord. We need your strength. Protect us from the boastful pride of life that we often flaunt in our flesh. Lord, humble us, give us grace and mercy to follow after you in your strength, independence upon you. We know, Lord, that our strength is smoke. It just whisks away with a breath. We know, Lord, that you are all powerful, able to keep that which we've committed to you. We pray that you would do that for your glory, God. We pray these things. In Jesus' name, amen. Let us stand as we end.


How can I upload a course to my Moodle site? It's possible to save a course created on one Moodle site and upload it onto a different Moodle site to adapt and reuse. When you save your course, the process is called backup, and when you add it or upload it to a different site, the process is called restore. Make sure the course backup ends in MBZ. If it ends in N-U-M-B-Z, that means it's a backup without any users. Click Site Administration, Courses, Restore course. Upload or drag in the file, click Restore, check all the settings, and click Continue. The next screen is for deciding if the course should be uploaded as a new course, in which case a category must be selected, or if the backup should be restored into an existing course somewhere on the site. If so, choose the course and decide if the backup should replace or be added to existing content. We'll restore as a new course. Clicking Continue then displays another screen to check the settings, and we press Next again. The name and details of the course can be edited and specific activities selected if desired, and then after a final check, we press Perform Restore. Once the process is complete, there's a green success message and the new course is now available. To summarise, an existing course may be uploaded and adapted from Site Administration, Courses, Courses, Restore.


first and foremost how are you feeling. I feel great. I really do. What a difference. You know get out of the hospital yesterday and then even waking up this morning. I just feels I it's hard to put in the words how much better I feel than that I did the last few months and it makes you realize that you know I thought I wasn't feeling great obviously. But the way I feel just waking up the next last few mornings and get rolling around today. I'm grateful that I got this done and and ready to ready to forward. What were some of the symptoms that you were experiencing that led you to get checked out and eventually have the procedure. Yeah it's been the last couple months you know I just felt like a little more lethargic a little more fatigued. You know I was having some episodes where I would stand up and feel like I was almost going to black out or certainly dizzy. I was I was really starting to get winded on some simple tasks and especially I think the last week or so. You know I noticed it just like you know I play play catch the other day with flavor and when I got done with it I was just like winded just from playing catch and and you know I think just some people. You know I think even a few of the coaches that I told them I told them I was going to get some cash. But I think like you know Hark and Neve started that. You know I wasn't I wasn't quite myself or quite as good. So they played a role in helping me you know get my butt in there and I'm really excited that I did it and it feel great right now. Prior to going in for the procedure it was important to you that you spoke to your team first and they actually saw you. Why was that such an important step in the process of getting this done for you. Because I hadn't I really hadn't spoken to anyone about it. I kind of went into the hospital a little suddenly the night before like I hadn't planned on doing that. And I just wanted them to know that you know I was very at ease with with everything that I knew I was going to have to go through the next couple of days. You know I just wanted to make sure that they weren't too worried about me and that they're you know focused on on the task at hand which is obviously getting ready for our season. But I just thought it was important that I communicated with them because you know I know having gone down this heart road a lot over the course of my life. You know I know when people hear things you know it's it can certainly it gets your attention when it's a matter of the heart. And I totally understand that. I just wanted to make sure that they knew that I was in a good place and going to be all right. What did they tell you in the video they sent back to wish you well. Yeah so Guardi Guardi was out in front with it and kind of spoke for everyone. And it was just it was cool to see them and you know see knowing that they care and just wanted to make sure I was all right. And then hearing some of the wise comments at the end that guys chimed in with was really funny. When you had the first heart procedure did you always know this could be a possibility down the line. No not this. You know I've always known that there's something related to what I went through that you know maybe pop up but I do think this is something that's different. You know and that's why when I originally went through all my checkups and stuff back in New York and then down here everything was checking out well with the procedure I had and with the issues I've had in the past. So this is something different. I did not expect this at all. It be very much snuck up on me but I'm glad we got to the bottom of it because I really do feel so much better.  When are you going to be back here at Steinbrenner Field. Yeah I'm hoping maybe you know tomorrow we're on the road. I'm hoping to right now it's about passing intake. I mean I'd probably be there today if it wasn't for that. So I got tested yesterday today didn't actually came to the parking lot to get a rapid test a little bit earlier. So hopefully all goes well with that and I'm back in in the in our little bubble so to speak and and I can get back to work.  Luckily we'll have you for nine innings today on the Yes Network so you can watch your team that way. But we are all extremely happy that you came through the procedure well and we're going to see you back on the field soon. Thanks Meredith and thank you to you and everyone with yes and just everyone really throughout the world that it's been overwhelming the amount of people that have reached out to me and it's been touching and humbling and I'm I'm so grateful for it and I'm just happy to hopefully get back here real soon. But thank you.