If Jesus is God, how can God die? Who was running the universe those three days that Jesus was dead?

The question assumes that death means non-existence, which is a misunderstanding of the biblical definition of death. According to Scripture, death is primarily about separation from God, not the end of existence. When Adam sinned, he experienced spiritual death, which is a severance from fellowship with God. This separation is illustrated in Genesis, where Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, indicating a loss of intimate communion with God rather than a complete annihilation of their being. Moreover, the New Testament further clarifies that being 'dead in sin' does not imply a lack of consciousness or existence. Ephesians 2:1-5 explains that individuals can be spiritually dead while still being alive in a physical sense. This indicates that death, in the biblical context, refers to a relational separation from God rather than a total absence of being. Thus, when Jesus died, it was a moment of separation from the Father in terms of fellowship, but not an end to His divine existence. God, in His essence, cannot cease to exist. Therefore, the question about who was running the universe during those three days misunderstands the nature of God and the significance of Jesus' death, which was a part of the divine plan for redemption rather than a moment of divine inactivity.