Jesus has an awesome point here, things will not be the same in the eternal life as they are here; the rules will be different. Remember in Revelation it says, “They will hunger no more, and thirst no more,” (Revelation 7:16) and “Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.” (Revelation 21:4) These are just the tip of the iceberg for the changes we will encounter in eternal life. What it will look like exactly we don’t know, we’re just given these little glimpses, hints of what is to come.
But what Jesus does say is that God is the God of the living and not the dead, the ancestors of the faith (even our loved ones) are all alive to him. Which is amazing and comforting; they may just be resting but they are all alive and waiting for the resurrection to the life to come. That is good news indeed!
Resurrected Lord, your words bring comfort to your people. Thank you for leaving them with us to ponder about the life to come. Right now we know only in part but when we join you we will know fully. Amen. — RK