“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet.”
What did they go out to see? They went to see a prophet, a prophet from God. And yes, even more than that, they went out to see one who was more than just a mere prophet, he was the prophet who was the Preparer of the way as prophesied by Isaiah, the Messenger of Malachi 3:1. After him would come the Coming One.
‘More than (just) a prophet.' He was the Elijah who was for to come (Matthew 11:14), the one who came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), although not strictly Elijah himself (John 1:21).