What does Luke 7:13 mean?

A widow is in the funeral procession for her only son when Jesus and His disciples meet them. Luke introduces Jesus to the situation through His compassion. Undoubtedly, the procession includes professional mourners who weep and wail to create an appropriate atmosphere. A "considerable crowd" (Luke 7:12) is with the woman, lending support in the face of her newfound powerlessness and, likely, destitution.

Jesus has compassion (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32) and values compassion (Luke 10:33; 15:20). He doesn't tell the widow to stop weeping because He disapproves of mourning. He tells her this because He can make her happy again. Like Jesus told His followers, "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh" (Luke 6:21). The woman's situation is about to change. It is time for hope, not weeping. It is unsuitable to cry when the Son of God is about to turn death into life again. Like Naomi, who entered Bethlehem with no husband and no sons, the woman will soon have a son back in her arms and her friends will glorify God (Luke 7:15–16; Ruth 4:13–16).

Christ followers who lose loved ones can feel the same. If those who have died are also believers, we can be assured we will see them again, reunited for eternity. We still mourn while we are separated. Yet, as Paul said, we do "not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

When people in the Gospels do not understand Jesus' identity as Messiah, "Lord" is a title of respect, like "sir" (Luke 5:8, 12). Luke, of course, knows Jesus is the savior and uses the word to show his readers that Jesus' authority to raise the dead is a clear sign that He is the Christ.