There have been a lot of talks of GOAT lately. GOAT stands for “Greatest Of All Time.” This usually refers to sports figures. The greatest quarterback ever? Tom Brady, for example. I don’t like him and I usually root for whoever is playing against him, such as yesterday at the Superbowl. But I have to tip my hat and admit that he is great. The GOAT of basketball? Michael Jordan. The GOAT of tennis? Roger Federer, who just won his 18th major at age 35. And on it goes…

Where would you put Jesus? He is great, no doubt. He’s had “billions” of followers for 2000 years. I doubt that people will fawn over Tom Brady 2000 years from now, let alone even know who he is…. But in what category is Jesus great? He never played football, basketball, or tennis…

That is what’s weird about trying to put Jesus in a category. You really can’t put Him in a category. He’s the Greatest Of All Time in what? Being a religious leader? The problem is that He never claimed to be a religious leader. He claimed to be God! No other religious leader claimed to be THE God. Plenty of non-religious leaders claimed to be God – most of them in mental institutions. But no legitimate religious leader claimed to be God like Jesus did.

Therein lies the problem to categorize Jesus. He is not a religious leader. He is not just a teacher. He is God! So, He is the Greatest God ever? But there is only one God!

C. S. Lewis was right. There are only 3 choices to who Jesus is. Lunatic, liar, or Lord. He claimed to be God over and over (Luke 20:44 for example). So, if He claimed to be God, but He really wasn’t, either He was a crazy lunatic, or He was lying, or He truly was who He claimed to be.

If He was a lunatic, then He was the Greatest Madman of All Time.

If He was a liar, then He was the Greatest Deceiver of All Time.

But if He was Lord, then He defies categories.

Take your pick.

To me, Jesus stands alone. Comparing Jesus to other leaders is like comparing Shakespeare to Hamlet.

Does your life bear out that He is Lord? If it doesn’t, then treat Him like a lunatic or liar.

PH