Matthew 11:8

“But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.” 

Note how well the pictures fit together, on the one hand the humble reed, on the other the mighty courtier. The one is found in the wilderness, but is hardly worth gong out to see, the other might be worth going out to see, but is not found in the wilderness. John was, however, neither and both. He was both worth going out to see, and was in the wilderness. For he was a prophet of God. He was not a thing to be blown about, nor an arrogant man of earthly authority and power, living at ease and in luxury. He was a true prophet of a kind that Israel had been waiting for.