Jesus never explicitly declared any one person as the greatest man who ever lived. However, he did praise several individuals for their faith, obedience, and love.
Here are some examples:
- Abraham: Jesus referred to Abraham as a man of great faith, saying, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad." (John 8:56)
- David: Jesus acknowledged David as a righteous king, saying, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:28) This statement references David's actions in the Old Testament, where he ate bread from the temple, an act considered sacrilegious by some.
- Moses: Jesus spoke of Moses as a great leader and prophet, saying, "For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." (John 5:46)
While Jesus never explicitly named a "greatest man," he highlighted qualities of character and faith that he admired. These qualities could be found in various individuals, demonstrating that greatness is not limited to a single person.