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Who is the greatest person who has ever lived (other than Jesus)?
People like to discuss the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in lots of categories – sports, presidents, songwriters, world leaders, humanitarians, philanthropists, artists, tech entrepreneurs, and on and on.
There is one undisputably greatest person ever that beats them all. Jesus declared
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Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!
Matthew 11:11a
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Why was John the greatest? Jesus explained the “why” right before He gave the punchline on the “who”.
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As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’Matthew 11:7-10
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John’s greatness was because of his central role in announcing the arrival of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – a great service to the world. Jesus described serving others as the key to greatness when He told the disciples at another time,
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But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25-27
A person’s greatness is not based on the strength of their personality, or their accomplishments in the world, or even how much others admire them. Greatness is based on how well we benefit the lives of those around us – serving them, and – as shown by John the Baptist – how well we can point them to the ONE will benefit them the most, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The really great news is that earthly “greatness” – even by God’s definition, will be superceded by the true greatness of being part of God’s eternal heavenly society. After Jesus declared John as the greatest, He then said,
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Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (John the Baptist).
Matthew 11:11b
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The lowest person in Heaven will be greater than the greatest person who ever lived on earth. So, do not worry about any failure to be as “great” as others on earth. Focus on loving and serving others in ways that benefit them eternally.
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