John the Baptist Cameo - Luke 7.18-35

John the Baptist enters Luke's narrative once again.  John's ministry did not end with the baptism of Jesus.  John continuously called on the people to repent, proclaimed the kingdom of God, and baptized people into forgiveness.
Yet John knew his primary mission was to point to the Messiah. And John wants a definitive answer about Christ's messianic status. Jesus says that his ministry proclaims who he is.
Jesus then turns the tables.  People wanted to know who John was.  And why Jesus and John were so different.  The ministry of John and the ministry of Jesus contrasted with one another greatly, yet they had the same message. John prophesied in the wilderness; Jesus stuck to the towns.  Jesus goes to homes to eat what is put in front of him; John eats bugs. John allowed (even the wrong kind of) people come to him; Jesus went to the people.
Who's ministry is right?
Wrong question. But the answer is "both."  When you're the messiah, you hear God speak one way; when you're the forerunner to the messiah, God speaks clearly to you as well.
And Jesus says something even more amazing - as great as John was, the least is greater than he. It's not a status thing, it's not earned; it's a grace thing.  God gave John grace; God gives the least even more grace.