John the Baptist inquires for confirmation of Jesus’ divinity.  This was so that his disciples would know.  John already knew.

Luke 7:20
When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"

Jesus didn’t answer with a yes or no. He answered with:

Luke 7:22
So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Jesus was quoting Isaiah and He knew John would know that. John would have known that this prophecy foretold the Messiah's coming.

It is only after the disciples of John leave that Jesus tells the crowd that “there is no one greater than John…”

Why didn’t Jesus tell that to the messengers from John? Wouldn’t that have given great comfort to John? Or was Jesus preventing even a hint of pride to creep into John? 

Some interesting thoughts on the anointing by the sinful woman at the home of Simon the Pharisee and are in the book, The Journey of Jesus From the Manger to the Mansion.

Simon the Pharisee had not offered the common cultural courtesy of the day to Jesus and Jesus pointed this out to the Pharisee.  Jesus contrasted this to what the sinful woman had done for Him. One must wonder what the motives of Simon really were concerning Jesus. Was He trying to trap Jesus.

Jesus condemned blasphemy in Mark 3:21.  When the Pharisees claimed that Jesus drove out demons by authority of Beelzebub ( Chaldean origin meaning "dung god") they were in effect calling the Holy Spirit an evil spirit.

Luke 11:27-28
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Jesus didn't seem to bless His mother above anyone. He was more concerned with those of us who hear and obey the word of God.  Once we become a believer in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, there is no greater blessing than to hear and obey His Word.