Of his cousin John, who lived in the wilderness, wearing a leather loin girdle and surviving only on locusts and honey, while calling people to repentance, and preaching the coming of the Messiah, Jesus said this (to those who wondered about John, after he’d been imprisoned by Herod): “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.”*
*Matthew 11: 7-11