Is Jesus Alive or Dead?

Is Jesus alive or dead? It may seem like a no-brainer question. It isn't. It is THE question of Easter.
If Jesus is dead, then we follow just a moral code. We follow the teachings of a great Jewish rabbi, who taught a radically new way of living in harmony with God and neighbor. We study the writings of his followers and learn about him. And Easter is just a nice holiday in the spring when we celebrate a theoretical resurrection that he talked about. And our only hope is in our own machinations. We can only hope in human leadership, in human power, in human solutions to our trials and problems.
BUT, if Jesus is alive, we follow a living, active Christ who still walks among us, works miracles among us, and stays active in our lives. He is not a moral code, he is the way, the truth and the life. He is not a great teacher, he is a living lesson, teaching our hearts daily through his living Word. We don't just learn about him, we come to know him. He becomes a friend, healer, teacher, counselor and Lord. He is our hope and strength. We can rely on him, not just on ourselves. We can rely on the King of the universe. We can trust in the Creator of all things to care tenderly for us in all situations. And we can have HOPE.
So, I ask you again, is your Jesus dead or alive?