“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” – John 3:17
Our America culture seems to be obsessed these days with naming who they think is the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.). It is usually in reference to sports figures, but also includes actors, singers, scientists, authors, historical figures and others as well. It is an evaluation as to which person has accomplished the greatest achievements in their chosen field of endeavor.
Stacy Wentworth, an MD, said, “To be the greatest at something requires dedication to the point of obsession, a singular focus that most of us don’t have.” In other words, to become the best at anything requires complete dedication and sacrifice. Greatness is earned, not bestowed!
There are 4 criteria that are used to determine which person should be awarded this title of being the G.O.A.T. They include achievements, impact, influence, and legacy. Let’s look at these criteria and see why there is really only one G.O.A.T. – and his name is Jesus!!
Achievements
In our world, human achievements are typically measured by accomplishments, results, and awards. This is usually the first criterion for determining who might be the greatest. Here are a few examples: Michael Jordan (basketball), Serena Williams (tennis), Whitney Houston (singer), Dustin Hoffman (acting), Abraham Lincoln (U.S. president), Isaac Newton (science), and William Shakespeare (writer). All these people accomplished great things during their lifetimes and might be considered the best in their fields. However, it is difficult to compare people from one era to another due to differences in culture and the equipment and the technology of its time. To say that they were the greatest of all time is still very subjective.
When we consider Jesus, however, His accomplishment dwarfs all of theirs put together! His accomplishments were not just in our world; they were for the entire world! This past Easter the world once again celebrated Jesus overcoming death and the grave! His achievement was victory over sin and Satan when He declared from the cross that “It is finished!” (John 19:30) He died, was buried, and rose to life again. He is the only person ever to do so. His accomplishment also gives eternal life to every person who is willing to put their faith and trust in Him for what He did for them. Every one of these other famous people has died or will die, but only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus will live forever. As the Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Impact
The second criterion we can look at is the impact a person has on the culture and the world. All the famous people I list above are well known around the world today. In our age of technology and the internet, people can watch their performances, read about their accomplishments, and follow them no matter where they live or when they lived. These people have also had a significant impact on the culture and the world we live in. Some of them achieved something so important that it changed the world or the way things are viewed today. And quite often these individuals take on a huge cultural following due to their uniqueness and personalities in addition to their accomplishments.
But there is no question that Jesus Christ has had the biggest impact on the world and its culture. He brought hope to the world when there was none. He also changed the way people thought about marriage, justice, government, and care for the poor. Christianity formed the basis of our Western culture of democracy and freedom that still dominates the nations of the world today. As Christians, we know that we “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil.” (1 Peter 2:16) Without Christianity, there would likely be no freedom and no United States of America. We could be living in a world controlled by the evils of atheism, Marxism, and terrorism!
Influence
The third criterion is to look at the influence these famous people have had on people’s behavior and beliefs. For example, how many kids wear Michael Jordan Nike shoes? How many young girls sacrifice their childhood to be the next Serena Williams or Whitney Houston? How many young people aspire to become scientists like Isaac Newton? Ordinary people often “worship” those who are famous and successful. They will sometimes dress like them, copy their mannerisms, or emulate their abilities if they can. They are also often influenced by their personal political or religious views. Yet, their influence is generally limited to only those people who admire and follow them.
Jesus influenced the world as well. But His influence extends to every human being, both positively and negatively! Famous people often display their wealth, their pride, and their status while Jesus displayed His poverty, His humility, and His servanthood. Jesus taught the world about forgiveness, loving our enemies, serving others, and sacrificing our wants for the needs of others. As Philippians 2:6-7 says, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.” His example has led His followers to live as He lived – serving others. Those who reject Him and His sacrifice for them live godless, self-focused lives. Either way, Jesus has had the greatest influence in our world!
Legacy
The final criterion is the number of followers and lasting memory an individual has. In today’s world of social media, many of today’s athletes, singers, and actors have millions of followers on Facebook, X, Instagram, and other platforms. They have devotees who attend every performance to show their support. They buy clothing with their idol’s name, accomplishments, and endorsements to show they are a true fan. And they memorize and can quote any statistic from their career.
But no matter how many millions of followers they have, they don’t come close to the number of followers that Jesus has – now estimated to be about 2.6 billion globally! Additionally, the calendar the world uses today is based on the life of Jesus. Now that’s a legacy!
Over time, people often forget the accomplishments and names of famous people that took place several centuries in the past. But Christians (followers of Jesus Christ) are the largest body of believers in the world still today! Jesus is celebrated every week through worship, especially when Christians partake in Holy Communion and remember His words, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) His sacrifice on the cross is well known and acknowledged to this day, and His legacy continues to positively impact our world.
Conclusion
Even though two thirds of the world do not believe in Jesus, He is still the Greatest of All Time for what he did on the cross for all humanity over 2,000 years ago. Jesus sacrificed His life for the sins of mankind so that all people could be saved from their sin and have the hope of eternal life with God our Father and Creator. As Jesus told His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) He laid down His life for us so that we can lay down our lives for Him!
In time, what people have accomplished in our world will eventually be surpassed or forgotten. But what Jesus did will be remembered and celebrated forever! As 1 Peter 1:24-25 says, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.”
Help us, Lord, to lead all people to worship Jesus – the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.)!