Lent for Everyone Mark Year B: A Daily Devotional

by N.T. Wright

"Lent for Everyone: Mark, Year B" provides readers with a gentle guide through the Lenten season, from Ash Wednesday through the week after Easter. Popular biblical scholar and author N. T. Wright provides his own Scripture translation, brief reflection, and a prayer for each of the days of the season, helping the reader ponder how the text is relevant to their own life today. Suitable for both personal and group reflection, Wright's guide through Lent will make the Bible--and the season--come alive in inspiring new ways.

Genres: Theology, Devotional, Faith, Nonfiction, Religion

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

N. T. Wright is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England (2003-2010) and one of the world's leading Bible scholars. He is now serving as the chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews. He has been featured on ABC News, Dateline NBC, The Colbert Report, and Fresh Air, and he has taught New Testament studies at Cambridge, McGill, and Oxford universities. Wright is the award-winning author of Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, The Last Word, The Challenge of Jesus, The Meaning of Jesus (coauthored with Marcus Borg), as well as the much heralded series Christian Origins and the Question of God.

He also publishes under Tom Wright.

Reviews

[Zac Talbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent Lenten devotional that provides a thoughtful and reflective, theologically profound journey through the Gospel of Mark (with reflections from other Gospels and Psalms on the weekends). The theology explained by NT Wright is easy to understand while deep and explanatory at the same time. I would highly recommend this for a Lenten resource anytime Year B comes around in the Lectionary!

[Natalya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Lenten Devotional

My husband and I love Wrights devotionals. It’s a great way to delve into scripture during the Easter season. Highly recommend!

[Evan Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent volume in the Wright for Everyone series. I appreciated this one for the way it helped Amy and I go through Lent in the proper mindset. Wright works through the Gospel of Mark (since it is year B in the church calendar this year, at least according to the Revised Common Lectionary, which is gaining more usage recently), and he does not repeat the same devotional material as from his NT Wright Mark for Everyone volume, so that kept it fresh. Wright always has a good word and allows you to really focus on the scripture. I highly recommend these volumes to anyone, and I am hoping that he comes out with an Advent, Pentecost, or other church year devotional because he has now finished all three years of Lent (A, B, and C) and late last year the last of the volumes in his New Testament for Everyone series were published (the short books near the end and Revelation).

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the advert says 'it does what it says on the tin'. Whether you are an ignoramus and a novice like me or a theologian there is something here for you. A really good way to be guided through Lent. Interesting, thought provoking and informative. Hurry on Year C.

[Lisamarie Landreth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful Lenten pilgrimage to the foot of the cross.

[Dave Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect complimenatary guide through the period of Lent, especially since I was working through the Gospel of Mark. Wright's insights as always are incredibly worthwhile, and he has such a knack for breaking the world of the text wide open. Here we get to see him veering away from some of the more academic stuff and towards some of his more pastoral tendencies, utilizing different storytelling methods in many places as a way to help make the text come alive in a fresh way. Mostly though, his knack for uncovering the larger narrative of the Christian story is on full display here, with every reflection offering a piece of that narrative puzzle. It really offered a sweeping view of the Gospel story, allowing us to stop and gain perspective at particular and important points along the way.

Really enjoyed this one. I'm looking forward to doing a different Gospel in this series next year.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst this devotional is obviously geared towards those of us in a Liturgical Setting (thus the "Year B") in the title, it is a fine book for all. For those who want something a bit "meatier" (say rather than a short passage, and a short devotional thought) for their journey through Lent and Easter (up till the Saturday following Easter Sunday), then this is a good choice. However, I would think it is also a good choice for those who don't traditionally observe Lent as they prepare themselves for Easter. Of course you could just as easy use this at any time of the year, for a good focus on Jesus - his ministry, his crucifixion and his resurrection.

[Kristin Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This devotional was eye opening and spurred many hours of pondering and conversations as it helped foster some much-needed paradigm shifts in my theology and understanding of Jesus.

I had become disenchanted with "Bible studies" and have not done any for several years. So I was not sure I'd follow through on this Lent study. Yet, I found that I could not wait to read the next day's study each morning! I look forward to doing this one again, and also doing his Lent years A and C in the future.

[Meghan Safstrom Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doing this study this year (alongside coloring prayer) utterly transformed my journey to the cross. Wright's devotional commentary will leave you laughing, crying, and rejoicing over and over again, as you engage with the beautiful and bewildering story of God in the Gospel of Mark. This will continue to be a part of my Lenten journeys from here on out!

(Also, there is a different devotional for Year A, B, and C).

[Amy Jacobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rich Lenten devotional! I was so blessed by these daily readings as we moved towards the cross and resurrection again this year. I look forward to checking out others in this series in the years to come!

[Daunavan Buyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Lent Resource

As usual, NT Wright has provided an incredible resource for people who want a thoughtful and scholarly engagement with the events surrounding Easter and some of the key teachings of Jesus’ ministry as recorded by Mark. Highly recommended for lent!

[Kaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. (And now I must fill up the word quota.)

And here is me taking up more space. Why? Because.

Yep, still going. I really enjoyed this book. The end.

[Sam Strickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic popular level NT Wright biblical commentary with accompanying brief prayers for the end of each comment

[Joshua Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really solid devotional to help focus on Christ during lent.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Lent devotional highlighting the clash between Jesus and the temple. Third time reading.

[Lynell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Lent book will be read again, for sure. I loved how the readings followed the Lenten scriptures.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a nice cheese this matures with age and re-reading. Nice literary pilgrimage that really works in the celebration of expectation.

[Jeff Hillier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Lent Devotional

NT Wright provides scripture with cultural context - and then connects it to our daily life. Another great book by Wright!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book during Lent in the year we were supposed to read through Matthew, because my Ladies Bible Study was studying the book of Mark. NT Wright has some amazing insights. I always enjoy seeing what he’ll dig out of a scriptural text.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

N.T. Wright brings his usual eloquence to bear on the familiar Gospel narrative, enriching our understanding with a tender intelligence, accessible across denominations and sects with his emphasis on the fundamentals of Christian thought and practice through the ages.

Developed to be read as a daily devotional from Ash Wednesday up through Holy Week, Wright's words are relevant regardless of the season. The call to set aside time for thoughtful meditation on the Gospel message - and the Passion in particular - is highlighted as the essential work of every Christian, whether you follow a calendar of holy days or not.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't finished this as yet, but I wanted to share it before Lent is over. I have been using Lent for Everyone for my Lenten meditation. I'm setting my alarm earlier and getting up to have quiet worship. This book is truly wonderful. Each day begins with a Bible reading which is included in the book. No need to have a pile of books for your meditation. The reading is followed by a great homily to lend meaning to the passage. The day's reading ends with a prayer for the day. I find this really helps me to center and brightens my outlook on the day. I am very grateful that this book fell into my hands for this season. I will treasure it and use it over and over again.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've now read Luke, Matthew and Mark - and I think Mark might be my favorite. Wright packs so much into these daily devotions - humor, insight, education, - it's hard sometimes to let the book unfold one day at a time over the course of weeks. But I find that is the best way to read them...one day at a time. I cannot recommend this series highly enough for anyone looking for a Lectionary-based Lenten devotion.

[Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

One week in, these meditations are superb. Just the right length: meaty, but short enough to keep my six year old's attention. This coupled with Horne's "The Victory According to Mark", and you're set for Year B lent devotions.

[John Hanscom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent exposition of the Gospel of Mark [Year B] for Lent and Easter Week.

[Allegra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. N.T. Wright is my new favorite writer.

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extremely helpful devotional book for the lenten season. The insights presented by N. T. Wright amazing and opened the book of Mark in new dimensions for me.

[Wes F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second time through these Lent readings. Excellent insights and applications.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

NT Wright is one of the best at using real life examples to explain theological truths. Love his For Everyone series and you will too.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like everything else Wright has written, this book was well written, filled with profound insights, and easy to read and understand. His knowledge and insight of Christian history and the life of Jesus, as well as his ability to connect with modern life, made this a wonderful daily journey through this year's Lenten season and the first week of Eastertide. The final installment of the book was superb, pulling together so many of the insights of the whole book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone to use for a Lenten journey (whether it is year B (Mark) or any other year!).