This Bible verse is inscribed on the tombstone... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
John 12:24

This Bible verse is inscribed on the tombstone of one of the most important Russian writers, who was born in Moscow on this day more than 200 years ago: Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. His books have been translated into over 170 languages.

As a young man, he was sentenced to death for political reasons. Fortunately, his sentence was commuted to eight years of hard labour in Siberia. Dostoevsky had to spend the entire sentence in chains and was not allowed to write. But he had a Bible, given to him by a fellow prisoner on the way to the camp. He would carry this Bible with him all his life and it was the reason why he included biblical content in his novels.

But the tragedy of the writer’s life was his addiction to gambling, which repeatedly drove him to ruin.

After his return to Moscow, Dostoevsky founded two magazines with his brother Mikhail: the first was banned; the second was not very successful economically. After losing his wife at an early age, his brother also died shortly after, at the age of only 43. He soon had to discontinue the publication of his magazine. In the years that followed, he wrote his six major novels.

When we deal with Dostoevsky’s biography, it’s strange for us to find this inscription placed above his life, because such words on a gravestone can’t do anything for the person who has died.

The inscription is about Jesus Christ. He was like “the grain of wheat”, going into death out of love for us then rising again after three days. He is the victor over sin and death, and through Him we can be freed from undesirable compulsions or addictions.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 66:1-24 · Mark 4:1-9