Jesus is the Greatest Of All Time because He is the only One who lived, died, rose again, and lives forever.

“When I saw [Jesus], I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18)”

Kelly Slater, Michael Schumacher, Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Roger Federer (maybe Djokovic), Venus Williams, Usain Bolt and Magnus Carlsen – what do these people have in common? All of them could lay claim to being the g.o.a.t, the Greatest Of All Time. (Actually, I have the same athleticism as one of them –guess which one!)

Every now and then someone comes along who doesn’t just win a few championships, or a world title, but completely dominates his or her field of sport for years. This person is referred to as the GOAT… until someone comes along who beats the GOAT’s record. Its always a debate about who the GOAT really is.

There is something else all these champions share: they are all going to fade away to nothing. Every one of them is going to grow old and end up frail needing help just to walk. Muhammad Ali, who famously said, ‘I am the greatest!’, wore shorts that said ‘Everlast’, and yet how sad it was to him shaking uncontrollably with Parkinson’s Disease, frail, unable to speak, propped up by family. Death won’t let these winners come second or third, but stone cold last.

The Truly Greatest Of All Time can only be the Person who defeats death. The Person who lives in eternity, the One Whom time itself can’t touch, is logically the Greatest Of All Time. This Person isn’t the champion, the winner, or record holder… the only title fit for this Person is, ‘the First and the Last’.

Jesus is Truly the GOAT. Who else lives forever? More than that. Who else has actually lived, died, and then lived again forever? Jesus is the GOAT because He didn’t stay in glory with the Father but entered the ‘competition’. He came down, entered our world and fought the fight for life. He died. Three days later He rose again to fame, glory and eternal renown. He will forever be spoken about, sung about, adored and praised. No one has ever, nor will ever, achieve what Jesus has achieved.

I remember seeing a video of a fan who met Ronaldo who was so overcome with emotion at meeting his hero he couldn’t speak, he just cried. John met his hero Jesus, and fell down as though dead from the overwhelming glory.

The heart-warming thing Jesus does is lay His right hand on John! What a feeling that must have been! (I’d never wash my shirt again!) Just think how condescending, how tender, how kind, Jesus is! See how Jesus reaches out! Jesus touches and identifies with His fans.

How sweet are His words: ‘Fear not’. Why Jesus? Why shouldn’t I be afraid? Its all very well for you, you’re a champion, I’m a loser! Because unlike every one of those champions who have silverware cluttering their houses, everything Jesus won, He won for you!