Behold, I Send My Messenger

Did you notice that Jesus spoke to the multitude three times:"What went ye out for to see?" The first time that Jesus said this, he asked: "Did you go out into the wilderness to see a reed shaken by the wind?" Of course they did not do that. That would be a silly thing to do. But the Lord Jesus chose His words carefully. He asked: "Did you go out to see a reed shaken by the wind?" Everyone knew what Jesus meant, because John the Baptist was exactly the opposite of a reed shaken by the wind.
John was a powerful preacher who stood firm as a rock and remained faithful to God, in a nation that was humiliated because they were overrun by the Roman Empire. Added to their shame, the Jews were ruled over by puppet kings who were descendants of Esau. Add to this that their religious establishment was ruled over by an immoral family, headed by Annas and Caiaphas as the high priests. And add to this that the scribes and Pharisees were teaching the people a salvation of works. John was greater.