Jesus stresses that He is indeed a King, but not in a sense that would be a threat to Rome or any other civil kingdom.

It is not of “this world” = (John 17:13-18). Jesus does have a kingdom, but it is not earthly in any sense. Worldly kingdoms arise from the earth or the sea (Dan 7:3, Rev 13:1, 11) but the kingdom of which Jesus is King comes from heaven (Rev 21:10). Its nature is not one of physical existence on the earth, but in the heart (Rom 14:17, Luke 17:21). Its weapons are spiritual (2 Cor 10:4) and are therefore not harmful to secular kingdoms. Its aim is completely different from that of earthly kingdoms (Luke 22:25-30) and thus no threat to those kingdoms. Jesus points out that if His kingdom were earthly, then His disciples would have been fighting even then and before for his release. Henry notes that “the peaceful behavior of His disciples on this occasion was enough to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” He not only didn’t order them to fight, but He forbid it (John 18:11). He could even have called upon legions of angels to defend Him and prove that His kingdom was heavenly (Matt 26:53) but He didn’t.

John 17:13-18  “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.  I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Daniel 7:3  Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

Revelation 13:1  And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.

Revelation 13:11  Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.

Revelation 21:10  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

Romans 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Luke 17:21  nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

2 Corinthians 10:4  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Luke 22:25-30  Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.  But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.  You are those who have stood by me in my trials.  And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,  so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

John 18:11  Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Matthew 26:53  Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

Jesus said that if His kingdom were of this world, His followers would fight to see that He was not handed over to the Jews. This has to point out the absurdity of the charge that He is the King of the Jews!

The fact that the kingdom of Jesus is not of this world has far-reaching application for all of His servants. It tells us 2 things: first, that we should never try to mix the world and its principles with those of the Kingdom of God and secondly, that we should never use worldly power or force to advance the Kingdom.