Blogger Beth Alison, from Lessons from a Lab, shared a post yesterday about the Christian’s new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Christ from the dead. A Moment with Our Creator: 1 Peter 1:3 closes with Beth’s request for her readers to share their favorite Easter song.
Musically, Easter brings to mind a favorite tune from back in 1988, Secret Ambition, by Michael W. Smith. The last line of the chorus summarizes the whole song:
🎶 Nobody knew His secret ambition was to give His life away.🎶
Michael W. Smith
I grew up Baptist, and the Passion of Christ (the events from the night before his crucifixion until his death on the cross) was not emphasized. Nevertheless, during the Easter season the Holy Spirit draws me to passages, like Isaiah chapter 53, where Jesus is described as our Suffering Servant.
He was arrested and sentenced to death. Then He was taken away. He was cut off from this life. He was punished for the sins of my people. Who among those who were living at that time tried to stop what was happening?
Isaiah 53:8 (NIRV)
Better yet, who alive at that time truly UNDERSTOOD what was happening–before the resurrection and ascension of Christ?
But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by his wounds were are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
At one Baptist church I attended, we actually held a Good Friday service. The scripture readings, worship music, and a short sermon all focused on the death of Christ. The congregation was then asked to leave in silence, contemplating the significance of the crucifixion.
But our throughly protestant pastor struggled to stick with the plan. During the benediction he remarked, “Brethren, Jesus died for our sins; we must remember His sacrifice. But, praise the Lord, He rose again on Easter!”
Note: If you see a black box where the video should be, please search on YouTube for Michael W. Smith Secret Ambition. It’s the one with 3.4 million views and is worth watching.
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love. Have a blessed Easter!
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
25 responses to “Nobody Knew His Secret Ambition”
Oh my, goodness! So, I am a big sister! Well, more than a crush, me and a Christian friend of mine love his songs.
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I’m only five years older. I was a teenager when Michael W. Smith came on the scene. Of course, my crush was on his good friend, Amy Grant.😊
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I was in high school when I heard this. I was born in 1973. 😊😋😁 Childhood crush 😆😆😆
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You’re welcome, Adelheid. Many of the people at my work were born in the 1980’s, But I remember this time as my young adulthood.
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I remember this! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Rainer. I love the way Beth writes too. I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you for stopping by.
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Thanks for sharing this Easter post. I took some time to slow down and catch up with some blogging friends. Beth is one of my favorite bloggers as well. Blessings.
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Thank you for the reblog, P. I am grateful.
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You’re welcome, P. I’ve always loved this song for the reason you mentioned, it sums up Christ’s entire ministry and mission. Thank you, and God Bless.
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Reblogged this on Country Ripples and commented:
I am reblogging this from David’s Daily Dose. It is worth taking the time to watch “Secret Ambition”.
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David, thank you for putting “Secret Ambition” on Beth’s site and yours. It sums up Christ’s mission so well.
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Happy Easter David!
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David, I hope you have a blessed Easter celebration as well.
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Thank you for reading and sharing, Manette Kay. God Bless! Happy Easter.
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Everything about Easter makes me think of the purpose [mission] Jesus came to fulfill.
The church I attended while my children were growing up put on an annual Easter pageant (a Passion play musical drama) including a few live animals i.e. donkey, lamb, and always a white horse for the triumphant return of Jesus. It was months of preparation and rehearsals there are songs that take me back to scenes from the production. It drew crowds from hours away, running for seven nights and twice on Saturday.
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I agree Mindy. Jesus coming back to life again is definitely the pinnacle of the Easter story. Thank you for reading and commenting. God Bless!
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Thank you for the reminder of those other, emotionally-full-of-our-Savior’s-love Scriptures. I love them so much! Yes, Easter is about the crucifixion of Jesus, but for me, more importantly, it’s all about his victorious resurrection after death – because of this, my heart lives 💜
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Reading Isaiah chapter 53 never fails to push my “That’s not Fair!” button. The line where it says, “But it was God’s will to crush Him.” brings tears to my eyes. And then I remember just who Christ was crushed for–unworthy sinners, like me.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Beth. Your earlier post did indeed inspire me to rethink the total meaning of Easter. Blessings!
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David, I’m so glad yesterday’s post inspired your post today. As soon as I read the title I began singing the song. It’s interesting how different denominations observe Easter. My Dad grew up Church of the Brethren which observed Maundy Thursday with a Love Feast and foot washing. It was a practice he carried with him to the nondenominational church my parents were a part of starting. Until reading your post, I never really thought about how Jesus knowing the prophecy would in turn have known the details surrounding His crucifixion. It gives me a much greater understanding of the depth of his agony as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. Happy Easter!
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Thank you, brother Alan. For some protestant denominations the circumstances surrounding Christ’s suffering and death are but a footnote for the celebration of Easter. Yet passages like Isaiah chapter 53 point to the importance of remembering His Passion. May God’s continued blessings be upon the Kearns clan this Easter!
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You make valuable point here David; how can we understand the work of Redemption by our Lord and Saviour unless we meditate on all of it? To understand the true value of what Jesus does we must spend time in the agonies of Calvary. Thank you brother, may you be blessed in Him this Easter weekend.
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Thank you, Bridget. You too!
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I hope you are your family have a Happy Easter! ✝️
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Thanks, Pastor Pete. And to you and yours as well!
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Happy Easter to you and your family Dave!
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