In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
Not only did all things come into existence through the Word, but everything that has life has it only because of Him. Life does not exist on its own; it exists only in the Logos. (Genesis 1:20, John 11:25, 14:6, 5:26, 10:10, 3:16, Acts 17:25)
Genesis 1:20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.
John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Acts 17:25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
Eternal life has little value if it only consists of quantity of life and has no quality. The life the Word brings to man is abundant, rich, and completely satisfying (John 10:10). Real life can only come though Him (Matt 4:4).
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
“and the life was the light of men.” Not only is all life in the Logos, but also all light. Life and light are both intertwined in creation, and both are in the Word. Light has, as does life, a double meaning, physical and spiritual. The Word is the author of both. In fact, it is only His life that can bring light to men. (Gen 1:3, John 8:12, 9:5)
Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”