²⁴ The two disciples of John then left. Jesus spoke to the crowd about John. He said to them, ‘You went out to the wilderness. What did you go there to see? Was it a tall piece of grass which the wind was blowing this way and that? No, you did not go to see that. ²⁵ Did you go to see a man who was wearing expensive clothes? No! People like that do not live in the wilderness. They have many beautiful things and they live in great houses. ²⁶ So what did you go to see? Did you go to see a prophet sent by God? Yes! But I tell you, John was even more important than a prophet.