Resurrection & Following Jesus

Q: Is it not more important to believe in the teaching of Jesus than that he is the son of God and rose from the dead?

If Jesus was not the son of God and if he did not rise from the dead, then why believe what he taught is any different or better than anything others taught? I hate to sound sarcastic here, but there were many great teachers in history. Gandhi, Mohammad, Gautama Buddha, Socrates, Plato, Confucius, etc... (the list goes on and on) they were all teachers of solid core foundational values. What is it that makes Jesus different?

Jesus is different because he offered a way to be in relationship in this world through his teaching. He offered a relational connection to God the creator that wasn't legalistic or prescriptive. By rising from the grave, he taught that life with our creator is eternal for those that are in that relationship. It gives the believer hope that there is something better for those that strive for righteousness and justice in the world.

So, for me they go hand in hand. If you believe in Jesus' teaching, and want them to make a difference in your relationship to God and all of creation then I would think that you would need to believe that Jesus was the Son of God (the incarnation of God = Jesus is God) and that he rose from the dead. Without a belief in the incarnation and the resurrection, I feel that Jesus is just another great teacher.