John preparing the way of the Lord!
Reeds can grow as high as a small tree, when left wild and the reed has many uses from a cane to beat slaves, to building materials and other!
Since it is light and blows in the wind many people do not see its value and that is how they for generations considered the Prophets, but Jesus pointed out John as being different, he was the last of the theocratic prophets before the establishment of Ekklesia and he was to be heeded!
Those that did eventually would come to faith in Messiah, while all the rest like Israel in ancient times who rejected the truth and provoked God would be once more scattered, until Israel would be restored as a nation.
Matthew 11:7, 12:20, Luke 7:24-26, 1 Kings 14:15-16.