Note 1 at Lk. 7:24: Jesus could here be speaking of the stability of John the Baptist. A reed is unstable, being blown about constantly by the wind. The multitudes would not have come out to John if he was wavering and fluctuating back and forth in his message similar to a reed shaking in the wind. But to the contrary, John was a prophet with a singular purpose, sounding forth his message without compromise, even in the face of persecution from the religious leaders and the Roman government.