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The Story of Ian and Larissa: the Supremacy of Christ in Marriage

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“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again…”
(John 4:14)

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:11-13)

Our friends at Desiring God produced a wonderful 9-minute documentary about the incredible love story between Ian and Larissa Murphy. They are true heroes.

Being satisfied in God (or anything) always seems easier when all is going well. But when things you love are being stripped out of your hands, then the test is real. If God remains precious in those moments, then his supreme worth shines more brightly. He is most glorified.

Watch the whole thing below. We pray it blesses you.

http://vimeo.com/38033654

Marriage is not mainly about prospering economically; it is mainly about displaying the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his church. Knowing Christ is more important than making a living. Treasuring Christ is more important than bearing children. Being united to Christ by faith is a greater source of marital success than perfect sex and double-income prosperity.

If we make secondary things primary, they cease to be secondary and become idolatrous. They have their place. But they are not first, and they are not guaranteed. Life is precarious, and even if it is long by human standards, it is short. “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring” (Prov. 27:1).

So it is with marriage. It is a momentary gift. It may last a lifetime, or it may be snatched away on the honeymoon. Either way, it is short. It may have many bright days, or it may be covered with clouds. If we make secondary things primary, we will be embittered at the sorrows we must face. But if we set our face to make of marriage mainly what God designed it to be, no sorrows and no calamities can stand in our way. Every one of them will be, not an obstacle to success, but a way to succeed. The beauty of the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his church shines brightest when nothing but Christ can sustain it.

—John Piper, This Momentary Marriage  (Crossway, 2009), p. 178.

Visit Ian and Larissa’s blog here.

You can also download This Momentary Marriage for free at the Desiring God website.

Comments

  1. Most people will never know this type of love and dedication. It is not by chance that the Lord uses the union of marriage as an analogy to His relationship with the church (us). Beautiful!

  2. Brother Chris : * Awesome Post * !!! As Jesus Wept over Jerusalem … I wept over watching the Video of The Murphy*s … ? !!! How Sad to see a Bright and Loving Couple … Come to a Shocking Realization of their lives changing over an Accident … and as an Example for us to be as a* Child * … Matt.18:1-6 …to our Father through Christ and Say ; * Father i might not understand Why this happened to Me Or Us … But I or WE …are Going to Put our Trust in You … instead of Ourselves … for our Lives … *!!! Most People would of given Up and Left their partner … thinking what other people would think of them …instead of what God Thinks … ? !!! Sister Larissa*s Thoughts were * Awesome on the Video * … Thinking that if the * Tables were Reversed * Ian would of Done the Same as She is and will Continue to Do for Ian … The Love of God … !!! Adonai created the Family structure … and Marriage to Fulfil it … Most people Forget their * Vows In Marraige * ” for better or for worse , till death do you Part ” !!! Brother Ian responce about God after the Accident and brain injury ??? * AWESOME is GOD * !!! Not Blaming God for his Loss … But Praising Him for WHO HE IS … !!! … Matt.16:21-28… and … Matt.18:18-20 … !!! Jesus Yeshua sent the Disiples * OUT IN TWO*S * Marriage is TWO*S K(now) …??? !!! Glory to Elohim through Yeshua … Micah4:1-2 …The Law of Christ is to Forgive and to Love one another … Bless everyone amen shalom bye !!! 🙂 …

    • AMEN Sister Barbara … !!! … Shalom to all , … as i was watching what others and i posted … The Spirit made me See Something …Matt.16:21 … On the * 3 rd Day * be Raised … Friday Jesus was Crucified … and on The * 3 rd day * …Sunday … Jesus was not in the Tomb … Matt.28:1 … But Resurected to God*s Glory … !!! * JESUS Fulfilled the Levitical Priesthood of a * Priest * of the Lord … !!! of * Washing with * Living Water * on the * 3rd Day * and 7 th Day in accordence to The Law of Moses …Ezek.36:23-28… Making Jesus Christ our High Priest , Prophet , King of Kings , Lord of Lords …and the Power of God to Bring Healing * Of All Infirmities or Sicknesses * … to God*s People … !!! People are Drawn to God by Love … the greatest GIFT is LOVE … !!! TRUTH IS LOVE is God and his Christ!!! Awesome is the Love of God … Forgiving Us inspite of Us Deserving Death for our Disobedience to his Laws and Commandments ??? !!! … Out of the Mouths of Babes comes perfect Praise … Matt21:9-15 … !!! Moses Being our Schoolmaster to know the Ways of the Lord … !!! As i have Breath … i will Praise the Lord blessings from Mount Zion amen shalom !!!

  6. Thank you for sharing! BEAUTIFUL!!!!! You both are amazing! Love to you!

  7. My Beloved of Yahweh our God and Jesus Christ,

    Peace and grace to each one of you. Amen!

    God instituted marriage as a type of Jesus and the Church (husband and wife – Eph 5:23). I love how our God and Father has put all these things together for us because He love us so very, very much. He is amazing and I love Him with my whole heart. Don’t you?

    I remember years ago coming home from my honeymoon and opening up the gifts that our family and friends had bestowed upon us and saying to my wife, “I am so glad we will be married forever!” She looked at me and said that’s not exactly true. I was stunned but she was correct. She went on to say that there is no marriage in heaven (Matt 22:30, Mark 12:25). She being a second year Bible college student and I being a first year student had spoken to me the truth in love.

    Marriage is, when worked at and pursued avidly, a good earmark for how we as Christians need to pursue after our relationship and love with God, Jesus and our fellow saints.

    The fifth chapter of the book of Ephesians goes into detail how husbands are to love their wives as Jesus loved the church and gave himself for it and how wives are to love their husbands as the church loves Jesus. Marriage is a two way street and so it is with our relationship with God and Jesus.

    Many in the churches today are not fully aware that the book, Song of Solomon, is a prophetic picture of Christ and His Church (Solomon and Abishag – Song of Solomon 1-8, 1 Kings 1:3, 1 Kings 2:17-22).

    As one reads through this book they should take note how much Jesus (Solomon) loves his church (the Shulamite) and how much his church loves him.

    Recently my beloved Pastor shared a portion of this book, Sgs 5:2 – “The Shulamite I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, “Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.” This shows how Jesus (Solomon) stands at the door of our hearts and knocks (Rev 3:20) and wanting us to spend time with Him (whether through prayer, worship or spending time reading God’s Word) because He loves us so very much, but Abishag (the Church) is sleepy (Matt 5:25) much like the churches are today.

    Marriage is a beautiful picture of our relationship with God and Jesus so let us hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches and shake sleep. Let us pursue our God with great fervency and zealousness so we can shake sleep (i.e. spiritual inactivity) and fall in love with Him more and more. Let us hunger and thirst after Him and His ways. Amen? Amen!

    Remember to pray for your pastors, elders and your brothers and sisters because we are in a spiritual war and prayer moves the hand of our Father!

    Agape,
    Brother Andybob

  8. To Ian and Lisa, my eyes were filled with tears as I watched the love of God displayed in such a powerful way. The board of gratitude…your love and faithfulness speaks volumes of Our Amazing, Awesome Father God… Thank you for the reminder to love my husband unconditionally, as my marriage, too is a reflection, of the love of God the Father and Christ and his beautiful bride. May God forever be praised, honored, glorified and be esteemed in your home and lives. Apart of me is speechless, not because I pity you, because I do not; I am truly ENCOURAGED and CHALLENGED and SEEK FOR GOD TO CHANGE ME TO BE A REFLECTION OF HIS LOVE AS YOU BOTH ARE… if I never mete you in this life, I too will be one of those who will say on that GREAT DAY…thank you for giving to the LORD, I was a life that was changed. THANK YOU BOTH!!!

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