It is interesting to note that as far as I can tell, no one has quoted Matthew 11:11 in this connection. Jesus said
"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he".
"Them that are born of women" means
all human beings since Adam and Eve. Mary was another human being and highlly favored by God.
Yet according to these words of Christ, there was no human being greater than John. The reason was that he was specially chosen by God to be the forerunner of the Messiah. Please note carefully what the angel said to Zechariah, his father, before John's birth (Lk 1:15-17):
15
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
John was indeed a unique prophet and we should note:
1.
He shall be great in the sight of the Lord -- this is not even said about the apostles.
2.
He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb -- this is not even said about Mary.
3.
He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias -- this is not even said about any other New Testament prophets.
4.
To make ready a people prepared for the Lord -- John would turn the hearts and minds of all Israel to receive Christ and turn back to God --
"Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan" (Mt 3:5).
In this context, when Mary and His family sought to get Christ's attention, He pointed to His disciples and said
"Behold, my mother and my brethern!" (Mt 12:47-50). In essence, His earthly family ties were no higher than His ties to His disciples, and the meaning of "mother, brothers, and sisters" had changed for Him. This is something to think about and to meditate upon.