As they went away, #jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:7-9

#yeshua asked these rhetorical questions in order to build up the audience's expecations of what he would say about John, but I think his high praise of John must have still been quite a surprise to them. "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist."

The contrast to what he said immediately afterward would have been even more startling: "Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."