 With this in mind, it's important for us to understand of all the men who've ever lived, Jesus declared John the Baptist, in his estimation, to be the greatest. Why was this? Was it because of his physique, his looks, John's abilities, his learning, his clothes, his pedigree? Was it his personality or wealth or education? What was it about John that, in Christ's perfect opinion, made him the greatest man to have ever lived?