Netflix quietly removed a crucial Biblical passage from “The Passion of the Christ” only to restore it days later after Christian viewers threatened mass subscription cancellations during Holy Week.
Key Takeaways
- Netflix temporarily removed Isaiah 53:5, a prophetic verse about Christ’s suffering, from the opening of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”
- Christian viewers and commentators quickly noticed the omission, sparking widespread outrage on social media
- The controversy began April 14 when a Catholic viewer highlighted the missing verse, which was replaced by 13 seconds of black screen
- Following threats of subscription cancellations and growing backlash, Netflix restored the biblical passage by Good Friday, April 18
- No official explanation for the temporary removal or subsequent restoration was provided by Netflix
Unexplained Removal of Biblical Prophecy
Viewers of “The Passion of the Christ” on Netflix discovered in mid-April that the streaming platform had removed a foundational biblical passage from the film’s opening sequence. The 2004 Mel Gibson-directed film traditionally begins with Isaiah 53:5, a prophetic Old Testament verse describing Christ’s suffering, but Netflix subscribers instead encountered a 13-second black screen where the scripture should have appeared. The omission was particularly noticeable to Christian viewers familiar with the original film, which uses the verse to establish the theological foundation for the crucifixion narrative that follows.
Reports about the missing verse began circulating after a Catholic woman named Cassie highlighted the issue on April 14. Gospel Herald and LifeSiteNews quickly investigated, confirming that many subscribers were experiencing the same omission. Adding to the confusion, some viewers reported still seeing the verse, suggesting the removal might have been targeted to specific accounts or regions. A Christian Post reporter indicated the passage appeared normally on their personal Netflix account, creating ambiguity about whether this was a technical error or intentional removal.
The Theological Significance of Isaiah 53
The removed verse holds extraordinary importance in Christian theology, particularly during the Easter season. Isaiah 53:5 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.” This passage from the Old Testament, written centuries before the crucifixion, is viewed by Christians as a direct prophecy about Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death. The verse establishes the redemptive purpose behind the brutal suffering depicted in Gibson’s film.
“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.” – Mel Gibson
Some Jewish scholars have referred to Isaiah 53 as “the forbidden chapter” due to its apparent description of Jesus. Eitan Bar, as reported by Gospel Herald, noted that interviews with Israeli Jews revealed surprise that this passage appears in the Old Testament. The prophecy’s explicit connection to Christian beliefs about Jesus makes its inclusion in the film particularly meaningful to believers, while its removal was seen as potentially undermining the director’s artistic and theological intent.
Swift Backlash and Restoration
The omission sparked immediate backlash across social media platforms, with many viewers interpreting it as deliberate censorship of Christian content. By April 17, the controversy had intensified significantly, with conservative commentator Benny Johnson publicly criticizing Netflix. “Netflix DELETED the Bible verse at the beginning of ‘The Passion of The Christ,'” Johnson wrote on social media. “Cancel Netflix,” he urged, leading to a wave of subscribers threatening to terminate their accounts if the verse wasn’t restored.
“You can’t silence the Truth. Christ is King.” – Benny Johnson
LifeSiteNews Editor-in-Chief John-Henry Westen emphasized the verse’s significance in the film: “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.” The mounting pressure appeared effective, as LifeSiteNews confirmed that while the omission was still present on April 17, the biblical passage had been restored by Good Friday, April 18, just in time for Easter weekend viewings.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Neither Netflix nor the filmmakers have issued any official statement explaining why the verse was initially removed or subsequently restored. The streaming platform has not addressed whether the omission was the result of a technical error, content licensing issue, or deliberate editorial decision. The silence from Netflix has left many subscribers questioning the company’s content policies regarding religious material, especially given the timing around Holy Week and Easter, the most significant season in the Christian calendar.
The controversy highlights the growing tension between secular entertainment platforms and faith-based content consumers. For many Christian viewers, the incident reinforced concerns about perceived bias against religious content in mainstream media. While the restoration of the verse has temporarily quieted the backlash, the episode demonstrates how quickly issues involving religious content can mobilize faith communities to take action when they believe their values are being marginalized.
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
