The conversation Jesus had with Saul on the Damascus road took place many years after Jesus’ death and resurrection and led to Saul's conversion. When Jesus confronted Saul, he was "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples" (v.1). Yet Jesus asks, "why do you persecute me?" The fact that Jesus lives in his disciples isn’t a theological theory but rather a practical truth. We see it again in verse 5 when Jesus says, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." When Christians are persecuted, Jesus feels it too. Christianity is not about nice theories to believe but has practical implications in the way we live.

It's not only in times of persecution that Jesus feels with us. Isaiah 63:9 tells us that, "In all their distress he too was distressed" and Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses." It is also the thought in the parable of the sheep and goats: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40).

Jesus knows what we go through, not just because he lived on earth, but because he lives in us. Whatever we experience, he feels.

We never have to feel alone with our problems or feel that no one understands. Even if the people around us don't understand, we have a high priest who goes through every experience with us. Our feelings are not reliable indicators of the truth. Let’s rely on Jesus and his word, believing that he is indeed living in us.

Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant letter of the law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross.