John Ch14 v6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 I am the way. (See Isa 35:8-9 John 10:9,  Heb 10:19,20).

By this is meant, doubtless, that they and all others were to have access to God only by obeying the instructions, imitating the example, and depending on the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the leader in the road, the guide to the wandering, the teacher of the ignorant, and the example to all. (See John 6:68): “Thou hast the words of eternal life;” (See 1Pe 2:21). “Christ—suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps;” (See Heb 9:8 9).

The truth. (See John 1:17 15:1)

The source of truth, or he who originates and communicates truth for the salvation of men. Truth is a representation of things as they are. The life, the purity, and the teaching of Jesus Christ was the most complete and perfect representation of the things of the eternal world that has been or can be presented to man. The ceremonies of the Jews were shadows; the life of Jesus was the truth. The opinions of men are fancy, but the doctrines of Jesus were nothing more than a representation of facts as they exist in the government of God. It is implied in this, also, that Jesus was the fountain of all truth; that by his inspiration the prophets spoke, and that by him all truth is communicated to men.  (See John 1:17).

The life. (See John 11:25,  John 1:4,  John 11:25) .

No man cometh to the Father but by me.

 To come to the Father is to obtain his favour, to have access to his throne by prayer, and finally to enter his kingdom. No man can obtain any of these things except by the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. By coming by him is meant coming in his name and depending on his merits. We are ignorant, and he alone can guide us. We are sinful, and it is only by his merits that we can be pardoned. We are blind, and he only can enlighten us. God has appointed him as the Mediator, and has ordained that all blessings shall descend to this world through him. Hence he has put the world under his control; has given the affairs of men into his hand, and has appointed him to dispense whatever may be necessary for our peace, pardon, and salvation,   (See Ac 4:22 5:31).

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.  (see "grace and truth"  Ps 85:10,  Rom. 5:21)

 A system of religion full of favours, and the true system, was revealed by him. The old system was one of law, and shadows, and burdensome rites; this was full of mercy to mankind, and was true in all things. We may learn from these verses--

1st. That all our mercies come from Jesus Christ.

2nd. "All true believers receive from Christ's fulness the best and greatest saints cannot live without him, the meanest and weakest may live by him. This excludes proud boasting that we have nothing but we have received it, and silenceth perplexing fears that we want nothing but we may receive it."

Verse 4. In him was life; and the life was  the light of men.

Ver. 4. In him was life.

The evangelist had just affirmed #John 1:3  that by the Logos or Word the world was originally created. One part of that creation consisted in breathing into man the breath of life, #Gen 2:7.  God is declared to be life, or the living God, because he is the source or fountain of life.

This attribute is here ascribed to Jesus Christ. He not merely made the material worlds, but he also gave life. He was the agent by which the vegetable world became animated; by which brutes live; and by which man became a living soul, or was endowed with immortality. This was a higher proof that the "Word was God," than the creation of the material worlds; but there is another sense in which he was life.

The new creation, or the renovation of man and his restoration from a state of sin, is often compared with the first creation; and as the Logos was the source of life then, so, in a similar but higher sense, he is the source of life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins, #Eph 2:1. And it is probably in reference to this that he is so often called life in the writings of John. "For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself," #John 5:26;  "He giveth life unto the world," #John 6:33;  "I am the resurrection and the life," #John 11:25; "This is the true God and eternal life," #1John 5:20. See also #1John 1:1,2 5:11 Acts 3:15 Col 3:4.

 The meaning is, that he is the source or the fountain of both natural and spiritual life. Of course he has the attributes of God.

The life was the light of men.

 Light is that by which we see objects distinctly. The light of the sun enables us to discern the form, the distance, the magnitude, and the relation of objects, and prevents the perplexities and dangers which result from a state of darkness. Light is in all languages, therefore, put for knowledge--for whatever enables us to discern our duty, and that saves us from the evils of ignorance and error. "Whatsoever doth make manifest is light," #Eph 5:13. See #Isa 8:20 9:2.

The Messiah was predicted as the light of the world, #Isa 9:2, compared with #Matt 4:15,16  Isa 60:1. See #John 8:12, "I am the light of the world;" #John 12:35 36 46   "I am come a light into the world."

The meaning is, that the Logos or Word of God is the instructor or teacher of man-kind. This was done before his advent by his direct agency in giving man reason or understanding, and in giving his law, for the "law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator"; {#Gal 3:19}  after his advent by his personal ministry when on earth, by his Spirit, {#John 14:16,26}  and by his ministers since, #Eph 4:11 1Cor 12:28.  

The Sayings of Jesus seen through Gospel of John