Fans praised Kevin Costner's Christmas television special.“Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas” is a brilliant retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ. (Photo credit: The First Christmas/ABC/Disney+)

Kevin Costner brought his retelling of the Biblical account of Jesus’s birth to television, and fans reacted with nothing but praise.

Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas was a two-hour deep dive into the incredible story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The story is told through reenactments, commentary from theologians, and narration from the show’s creator.

While most Christmas programming focuses on the festivities and light-hearted celebrations surrounding the holiday, Costner’s program gave viewers a raw glimpse into the historical account of the first Christmas. The story focused on the hardships endured by Mary and Joseph, “young people navigating fear, uncertainty, and danger.”

“This was a pregnant, unwed teenage girl, and Joseph was just as young. They were kids on this incredible journey,” Costner recently told The Christian Post. “This story has lived for thousands of years, but they were teenagers, and it was fraught with danger.”

“Babies were slaughtered over this issue. A proclaimed king was coming according to prophecy. These were real times, Roman rule, unstable cultures, and the stakes were incredibly high. Life wasn’t valued the way we think of it today. They had to protect their lives and protect their child, whom we proclaim as the Son of God. For them, it was a fight for life at such a young age.”

Viewers Reacted To The First Christmas

The airing of the program on ABC was a surprising move from the major television network, which typically avoids religious programming. The decision was praised by viewers who applauded Costner’s effort to “keep Christ in Christmas.”

Not only did Kevin Costner throw his voice and support behind the program, but he also proclaimed his own faith, saying, “This is what I believe.”

Following the premiere of Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas, viewers took to social media to express their thoughts on the show and Kevin’s public profession of faith. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with plenty of exclamations of “magnificent,” “profound,” and “wonderful.”






The First Christmas will air again on ABC on December 20. It can also be viewed on demand on Disney+ and YouTubeTV.

See the trailer for Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas in the video below.