Kevin Costner Brings a Gritty Nativity Story to TV in ‘The First Christmas’

Jodi Magness, Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at UNC-Chapel Hill, was one of the featured scholars in the ABC production, “Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas,” which aired on ABC on Dec. 9.The two-hour special, which can now be streamed on Disney+ and Hulu, offered a portrayal of the birth of Jesus with context and commentary from experts. Magness spoke about Jewish customs and traditions of the time and about the reign of King Herod. Her book, Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades, was published in 2024. Her research interests — which focus on Palestine in the Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic periods, and Diaspora Judaism in the Roman world — include ancient pottery, ancient synagogues, Jerusalem, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Roman army in the East.