Mary is arguably the first disciple - somebody who lived in the world but also lived very close to the heart of God. In this book, Andrew Jones explores the different ways she is presented in the Gospels and also in Christian spirituality down through history, showing how her significance extends far beyond the Christmas story, to the foot of the cross and beyond. By setting her in her full biblical context, drawing on both Old and New Testaments, he also considers how Mary can be an invaluable focus for ecumenical unity, rather than a means of division. As more than just a mother at the manger, Mary can be a pattern for our own discipleship. She is an enduring witness to the central importance of transfiguration and liberation as characteristics of the Kingdom of God, characteristics that should be visible in our lives as followers of Jesus today.