I think it depends on what is measured, as to who is “greatest”.
Solomon, for example is the “wisest man” who ever lived. But the wisdom of Solomon included the folly of marrying 700 wives, whom God had warned him not to marry …
Certainly, Jesus is wiser than Solomon – for he even says we have one greater than Solomon here.
What, then, of the Prophets?
Moses saw God face to face as a friend – others saw God only “through” locutions, or inspiration. Moses was Given the staff with which to strike the Egyptian Gods, the Nile, and the serpents, and all their half human deities. Then when the people grumbled against Moses himself, this staff associated with the waters and serpents becomes the very thing that God has moses use to Strike the rock – the symbol of God himself and Abraham. Did God ask his friend to strike him with this same “magic” staff, to show us what was to come in Christ from whom would come springs of water. – and it is this same striking of God with the staff which is later imputed to Moses as the sin of disbelief which causes the very burial and death mentioned in the OP.
What then of Elijah, and Elisha? If Elisha received a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit, then it is clear that Elijah had more power than he used. But, Elijah, is the one who multiplied the bread 20x or so – which Christ would multiply 1000x or so – and just when the Apostles thought that there was a proportionality between the amount of bread, and the multiplication – as if matter could “stretch” – Jesus takes LESS bread and makes more in excess. For all his miracles, what did Elisha do that foreshadows Christ – what is his legacy in telling the people what they needed to hear about God? There are incorruptable saints, who have not gone even to bones as Elisha did. If God can open a donkey’s mouth, what difference does it make that dry bones without a will – brought a man back to life – how is this a credit to Elisha? ( I think Elisha is great ).
But then what of Jonas, the prophet who isn’t rejected – who isn’t killed – God has him swallowed by a fish for three days … he was dead by any practical standard, but since corruption begins on the fourth day according to their theory, his resurrection was the same as the widows son whom Elijah brought back…
But here lies a curiosity – Jonas, in his defiant death, and spoiled outlook over the plant which withers – is the one to whom Jesus plays greatest credit as a “sign”, for Jonas is the one whom Jesus says he will be “like” for three days in the tomb, rather than Jonas being “like” Jesus.
How then to compare the prophets, based on “miracles”, and “wonders”, which are for the wicked? or perhaps, better yet – as John who spoke not in figures alone, nor in miracles at all, but whom pointed only to Christ – and not to himself.
He is the willing mouth, who spoke the words we all need to hear, born merely of woman.
God bless, compare and contrast is lots of fun.
