Netflix quietly restored a key Biblical passage to “The Passion of the Christ” after Christian viewers discovered its removal and unleashed a wave of backlash against the streaming giant during Holy Week.
Key Insights
- Netflix faced significant Christian backlash after removing Isaiah 53:5 from the opening of “The Passion of the Christ,” a passage considered prophetic of Jesus’s suffering
- The controversy began around April 14 when viewers noticed the biblical quote had been replaced with a black screen
- Following threats of subscription cancellations and widespread social media criticism, Netflix restored the quote by Good Friday
- No official statement was provided by Netflix regarding either the removal or restoration of the scripture
Scripture Deletion Sparks Outrage
Christian viewers were stunned to discover that Netflix’s version of Mel Gibson’s 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ” began with 13 seconds of black screen instead of the powerful Isaiah 53:5 quote that has traditionally opened the film. The passage, which reads, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed,” holds profound significance for Christians as a prophetic description of Jesus’s suffering written centuries before his crucifixion. The omission was first reported by a Catholic woman named Cassie on April 14, quickly gaining traction among faith communities concerned about what appeared to be selective editing of religious content.
The situation became more confusing when inconsistent reports emerged about the verse’s appearance across different Netflix accounts. While some users confirmed the verse was missing, a Christian Post reporter noted it appeared normally on their personal account. These discrepancies raised questions about whether the omission might vary by geographic location or account settings, adding another layer of complexity to the growing controversy. With no official explanation from Netflix, speculation ran rampant about the motivations behind what many viewed as deliberate censorship of Christian scripture.
The Significance of the “Forbidden Chapter”
Isaiah 53 carries particular weight in Christian theology as evidence that Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies as the Messiah. Often referred to as “the forbidden chapter” by some Jewish scholars like Eitan Bar, this passage has been central to Christian-Jewish theological discussions for centuries. Its inclusion at the beginning of Gibson’s film was a deliberate artistic choice to frame the entire narrative within prophetic context, making its removal particularly troubling to viewers who value the film’s biblical foundations.
“You hear this passage, you know it’s talking about Jesus. Whether you believe he’s the Messiah or not. That’s precisely why it was so powerful for Mel Gibson to have put it at the start of The Passion of the Christ.” – LifeSiteNews Editor-in-Chief John-Henry Westen
LifeSiteNews reported on the controversy on April 15, highlighting not only the theological importance of the passage but also its historical significance. One fascinating aspect of this debate involves interviews with Israeli Jews who expressed surprise upon learning that Isaiah 53 comes from the Old Testament, not the New Testament. This revelation underscores why Gibson’s use of the passage was so powerful – it establishes Jesus’s suffering as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy rather than merely a Christian interpretation.
Backlash Forces Netflix to Act
By April 17, the controversy had gained significant momentum on social media platforms, with conservative commentator Benny Johnson among those vocally criticizing Netflix’s decision. “You can’t silence the Truth. Christ is King,” Johnson stated in response to the omission. The timing during Holy Week intensified the backlash, as many Christians were preparing to commemorate Christ’s passion and resurrection. Numerous viewers publicly threatened to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, turning what may have been an overlooked edit into a substantial public relations problem for the streaming service.
LifeSiteNews confirmed that the Isaiah quote remained absent from the film on April 17, but by Good Friday, April 18, Netflix had quietly restored the original opening sequence with the biblical passage intact. The restoration came without any explanation or acknowledgment from Netflix about either the initial removal or its subsequent reinstatement. This silent reversal has left many questions unanswered about Netflix’s content policies regarding religious material, though it represents a clear victory for viewers who advocated for maintaining the film’s original artistic and theological integrity.
Sources:
- Netflix under scrutiny after bible verse disappears from ‘The Passion of the Christ’
- Netflix restores Isaiah quote to Passion of the Christ film after backlash over its removal
