John the Baptist: Matthew 11:1-19 and Luke 7:18-35

While John the Baptist was in prison, he heard  of the works that the Savior was doing.  John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" (Matt 11:3)

The Savior told the disciples to return to John.  "Go shew John again those things which ye do hear and see" (Matt 11:4)

What did the disciples of John see and hear?  They saw the blind receive their sight. They saw the lame walk.  Lepers were cleansed and the deaf could hear.  The dead were raised up and the poor were taught. (Matt 11:5)

John the Baptist did not doubt that Jesus was the Lord.  The disciples that were following John the Baptist, were reluctant to detach themselves from John and follow the Savior.  

John the Baptist knew who the Savior was.  John was the Savior's prophet.  

In Matthew 11:11 it says that there was no greater prophet than John the Baptist.  Why was John considered the greatest prophet born of a woman?  

1.  He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord.  

2.  He was entrusted with the important mission that only he could do, to baptize the Son of Man

3.  John, at the time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on the earth, and holding the keys of power.  The Jews had to obey his instructions according to their own law.  (Smith, Teachings, pp 275-76)

In John 3:30 it says "He must increase, but I must decrease".  I think John is saying that the Savior's ministry must increase but John's would decrease.  John's mission was coming to an end.  He had accomplished his great work.  He had prepared the way for the Savior and he had baptized the Savior.