John was a prophet, nothing more. Read Luke 7:28 KJV. Jesus never said John was greater than Himself. Rather John said this of Jesus: "He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." John 1:27 (KJV)
Scriptures also say that "God is Love" which would make Love, in its finality, the equalizer. Jesus was full of Grace and Truth. There can be nothing greater in man except glorification. So, where is independence in that and yet it is as Jesus, the man, demonstrated? "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." John 17:21 (KJV)
Another way of looking at this is to interpret this verse as meaning to be equal with God as the word "know" signifies: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3 (KJV) Why I say that is because that verse implies what God's intention was from the beginning, i.e., that He would have an "intimate" relationhip with man that would finalize itself in the Godhead in Glorified human flesh.. Jesus, the man, was the forerunner in this. The first all others must conform to.