What does Mark 5:33 mean?

When the legion of demons fell before Jesus (Mark 5:6), it was in acknowledgement of Jesus' superiority. When Jairus, the synagogue leader fell (Mark 5:22), it was in desperate supplication. The woman who has been healed of her twelve-year issue of blood falls prostrate, in homage, great emotion, and fear. The God-empowered, miracle-working rabbi has discovered that she, an unclean woman, touched His robe. He is now unclean until evening, when He must bathe Himself and His clothes. She has taken terrible liberties and dishonored Him in front of the great crowd.

When God asks Adam and Eve where they were, their response is to mislead. They know God knows their sin, and they immediately set about trying to shift the blame (Genesis 3:8–13). When God asks Cain where Abel is, Cain responds with feigned ignorance (Genesis 4:9–10). This woman shows incredible integrity by stepping forward and telling Jesus the whole truth.

We're not told why she is afraid. It may be she thinks Jesus will condemn her for her act. Or that, like the disciples in the storm (Mark 4:35–41), she has gained an even greater idea of the power of the man she had faith in. Her bravery, however, serves her well. First, it reveals to the entire crowd that her shameful condition is healed. She is ceremonially clean—or, at the very least, now has regained the ability to become clean, something her condition prevented. Second, it allows Jesus to commend her to the crowd, completely reversing her disgraced social status. Because she is open and honest, she is able to live openly in her newfound freedom.