After Christians nationwide protested the removal of a crucial Bible verse from “The Passion of the Christ,” Netflix quietly reversed course, restoring the prophetic words that set the foundation for Mel Gibson’s powerful depiction of Christ’s sacrifice.
Quick Takes
- Netflix removed Isaiah 53:5 from the opening of “The Passion of the Christ,” replacing it with a blank screen
- Christian audiences responded with outrage and subscription cancellation threats
- The prophetic passage is considered vital to the film’s theological message about Christ’s suffering
- Following significant backlash, Netflix restored the verse by Good Friday
- The controversy highlighted the importance many viewers place on faithful representation of religious content
Bible Verse Disappears from Iconic Film
Christian viewers were shocked to discover that Netflix had removed a significant Old Testament prophecy from the opening of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.” The 2004 film traditionally begins with Isaiah 53:5, a passage Christians believe foretells Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. In its place, Netflix users reported seeing only 13 seconds of black screen, fundamentally altering the film’s spiritual introduction. The alteration was first spotted in mid-April when a Catholic woman named Cassie brought attention to the missing scripture on social media, quickly igniting controversy across Christian communities nationwide.
The situation initially appeared confusing, with reports of inconsistent experiences among Netflix subscribers. Some users confirmed the verse’s absence while others, including a Christian Post reporter, claimed they could still see the Biblical passage on their accounts. This ambiguity sparked speculation about whether the omission might be related to geographic location, account settings, or selective content modifications. Regardless of the inconsistency, many faithful viewers considered the removal a deliberate attempt to diminish the film’s religious significance.
The Theological Significance
The controversy centers on a passage often called “the forbidden chapter” by some Jewish scholars due to its clear parallels with Christian interpretations of Jesus as the prophesied Messiah. Isaiah 53 describes a suffering servant who bears the punishment for others’ sins—language that forms a theological cornerstone of Christian understanding of Christ’s sacrificial death. In Gibson’s film, this prophecy establishes the biblical foundation for the graphic portrayal of Christ’s suffering that follows, making its removal particularly significant to the film’s intended message.
“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
LifeSiteNews Editor-in-Chief John-Henry Westen emphasized the passage’s unique power in the film’s context: “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 passage’s prophetic nature—written centuries before Christ’s crucifixion—serves as powerful evidence for many Christians of divine foreknowledge of Christ’s redemptive mission.
Christians Push Back
As word spread about the missing scripture, Christian commentators and social media users mobilized in protest. Conservative commentator Benny Johnson was among the prominent voices criticizing Netflix, declaring, “You can’t silence the Truth. Christ is King.” Many subscribers threatened to cancel their Netflix accounts if the original version wasn’t restored. The timing of the controversy—during Holy Week, when Christians worldwide commemorate Christ’s passion and resurrection—further intensified the backlash among religious viewers who saw the omission as particularly disrespectful.
“the forbidden chapter” – Eitan Bar
Despite the growing protest, Netflix initially made no public statement addressing the controversy. Verification by multiple sources confirmed the verse’s absence was still evident on April 17. However, the pressure campaign appears to have worked. By Good Friday, April 18—fittingly the day Christians commemorate Christ’s crucifixion—LifeSiteNews confirmed that Netflix had quietly restored the Isaiah quotation to its rightful place at the beginning of the film, reinstating Gibson’s original artistic and theological vision.
A Victory for Religious Viewers
The swift reversal represents a significant response to viewer concerns about the preservation of religious content. Throughout the controversy, Netflix never provided an official explanation for the initial removal or the subsequent restoration. Some commentators have suggested the incident demonstrates the power of collective action when faith communities unite around shared concerns. For Christian viewers, the restoration affirms the importance of Isaiah’s prophecy to the film’s central message about Christ’s sacrificial death.
The incident has raised broader questions about content modification on streaming platforms and the responsibilities providers have to maintain the integrity of faith-based programming. As streaming services continue to expand their libraries with religious content, this controversy may serve as a reminder of the deeply personal connection many viewers have with sacred texts and their depiction in media—especially in films explicitly created to honor those traditions.
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
