Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas

Ellen Mongan reviews a new special that tells the story of Christmas, now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

The Christmas atory is engraved on almost all of our hearts from the time we were little children. With eyes of wonder, we await opening presents, gathering with beloved family around the tree, and, of course, Santa Claus. Christmas is a time of love, joy, peace, and enchantment.

As time goes on, a deeper meaning of this life-giving holiday stirs within our souls as our faith grows and blossoms. It happens over the years, perhaps as we set up the Nativity scene as a family, as we light the candles on the Advent wreath together each day, or as fathers read the story of the Word of God in Luke 2 on Christmas Eve. We begin to comprehend that it is not just a story, it is real, and the gateway to our salvation. As our faith matures, we want to learn more. 

The Real Meaning of Christmas

In the Hulu/Disney+ special, Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas, more of the story is presented. Kevin Costner, as the host of this special, does an excellent job of navigating the journey of two ordinary teens through whom God has chosen to bring life into this world. As the story comes alive before your eyes, it will touch your heart.

As the movie unfolds, experts intermittently offer more profound insight into the events, awakening one’s intellect. You will be educated about the what, where, why, and how of the times, the places, and even the people. Once I caught on to the style, I was intrigued. To the doubting Thomas out there who says, “Prove it to me, God,” your heart's desire may find an answer in this movie. 

Mary and Joseph Are Chosen by God: The Annunciation

The movie was inspiring. If you put yourself in the footsteps of a teenage girl named Mary, you will realize what courage and faith it took to carry out God’s request delivered by the angel Gabriel. You will see why Mary’s response was one of total surrender to God’s will. If you were asked to walk in the footsteps of her fiancée, a young boy named Joseph, you might be a little hesitant to accept the message he was given from an angel. He knew it would change the course of his life forever. He wrestled with it, then convinced it was a reality, when his wife-to-be was found to be with child.

What an awesome responsibility to be entrusted with, protecting and providing for the Son of God. With trust in God alone, their hearts were united for God’s purposes. Mary’s words, already spoken to the angel, became their hearts' cry: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Each hardship they faced on their journey was met with God’s grace, helping them see it through. Acceptance, with faith, gave them the ability to keep going forward. 

Mary Visits Elizabeth: The Visitation

One of my favorite parts of the movie was when Mary, after learning that her cousin, Elizabeth, was with child, decided to serve her. When she told her fiancé, Joseph, about her plan, he, of course, wanted to go with her. He tried to take care of her. What was her response to his kind gesture? Mary said, “I must go alone." It was one of the many times in her life that Mary was called to stand alone, while pondering things in her heart. 

The documentary part of the movie explains and educates the viewer. I was especially blessed to learn more about midwifery, birth, and mentoring in those times. Women needed other women at this tender, sacred time of their lives, the birth of their child. 

Give God Your Yes

As the movie progressed, I realized the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary were being depicted. I tucked each scene in my heart to contemplate my next Rosary. At each challenge in her life, from the Annunciation to the Finding in the Temple, God called Mary to say “Yes.” Her answer was always, “May it be done to me according to your Word!”

For me, this became the movie's focal point! As I placed myself in Mary’s footsteps in each scene, God seemed to be asking, “What would your answer be?” Many have not wrestled with these questions. Would you answer “Yes,” as Mary did? Would your heart's cry be, “May it be done to me according to your Word?" 

 As you watch Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas, put yourself in Mary's footsteps in each scene. Let the real Christmas story come alive in your heart. Let the experts feed your appetite to learn more. Pause in prayer and answer the questions for yourself.

Let this Christmas be different. As your heart has been inspired, encourage others to watch the movie The First Christmas. Then go and tell the world, "It is not just a story, it is REAL, and the gateway to our salvation."

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Copyright 2025 Ellen Mongan
Images: copyright 2025 Disney Entertainment, all rights reserved.