Netflix has restored a crucial Biblical prophecy to “The Passion of the Christ” after Christians threatened mass cancellations, proving once again that consumer power can defeat woke censorship of religious content.
Key Takeaways
- Netflix faced significant backlash after removing Isaiah 53:5, a pivotal Old Testament prophecy about Christ’s suffering, from the opening of Mel Gibson’s film
- The streaming platform replaced the Scripture with a blank screen, fundamentally altering the film’s theological framework
- Christian viewers mobilized quickly on social media, with many threatening to cancel their subscriptions
- Netflix quietly restored the Biblical passage by Good Friday, following the public outcry
- The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between mainstream platforms and faith-based content
Scripture Censorship Sparks Outrage
The controversy began on April 14 when a Catholic viewer named Cassie noticed that Netflix’s version of “The Passion of the Christ” was missing its opening Biblical quotation. In Mel Gibson’s original 2004 film, Isaiah 53:5 appears on screen before any action begins, establishing the theological foundation for the crucifixion narrative that follows. Instead of this foundational text, Netflix subscribers were presented with 13 seconds of black screen – a change that fundamentally altered the film’s introduction and spiritual context for viewers unfamiliar with the significance of the passage.
The alteration of “The Passion of the Christ” struck many Christians as particularly egregious because Isaiah 53 has profound significance in Christian theology. Known as the “Suffering Servant” passage, this Old Testament text is viewed by Christians as a prophetic description of Jesus’s crucifixion, written centuries before the events depicted in the film. The specific verse in question, 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.”
Netflix Faces Consumer Revolt
The backlash spread rapidly across social media platforms after LifeSiteNews reported on the issue on April 15. By April 17, the controversy had reached mainstream conservative commentators including Benny Johnson, who publicly criticized Netflix and encouraged his followers to pressure the company. Many subscribers began posting that they would cancel their Netflix accounts if the Scripture remained censored, demonstrating once again that economic pressure remains effective against corporations that disrespect religious values and alter content to fit ideological agendas.
“You can’t silence the Truth. Christ is King.” – Benny Johnson
Adding to the controversy was the peculiar inconsistency in how the film appeared on different accounts. Some Netflix subscribers reported seeing the verse while others confirmed its absence, creating confusion about whether the censorship was targeted to certain geographic regions or account profiles. A reporter from The Christian Post noted that the verse appeared on their personal account, further muddying the waters about Netflix’s intentions and whether this was a deliberate editorial decision or a technical error.
The Power of Isaiah 53
What makes this particular Scripture so significant – and its removal so troubling – is its status in interfaith discussions. Some Jewish scholars refer to Isaiah 53 as “the forbidden chapter” because of how clearly it appears to describe Jesus, making it a powerful witnessing tool for Christians. LifeSiteNews Editor-in-Chief John-Henry Westen emphasized this point, noting the passage’s extraordinary impact on viewers regardless of their faith background.
“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
The controversy was resolved by Good Friday, April 18, when Netflix quietly restored the Isaiah passage to the film without public explanation. This restoration, timed precisely during Holy Week when Christian viewers would be most likely to watch the film, suggests Netflix recognized the serious financial and public relations damage their censorship had caused. The episode demonstrates that while mainstream platforms may increasingly attempt to secularize or sanitize religious content, organized consumer resistance can still effectively protect the integrity of faith-based narratives.
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
