Though His disciples vowed to lay down their lives to keep Jesus from the Cross, it was His will to do this alone. Only He could purchase our pardon. He didn't demand that the disciples demonstrate their love by laying their lives down to guard His life. Instead, He humbly insists that their love for Him be demonstrated by loving those redeemed by His death and resurrection. This is how God the Son (Jesus) glorified God the Father, and how God the Father glorified God the Son. This is God's work alone to purchase salvation and this glory belongs to Him alone.
We do not purchase our own redemption by loving others or God. Neither can we redeem other people by lovingly laying down our lives for them. That is a glory reserved for God alone. Rather, we are to use our love for His people to illustrate His love for us.