They were well respected in the community. It is not far-fetched to believe Mary and Martha were part of this community even though the Bible does not say this explicitly, we can make this assertion from a historical context. Essenes (a Jewish sect) were known for their commitment to serve the poor and sick.” These centers were spread throughout the ancient Jewish world. It is likely that this village served as one of the Jewish Essene diaconal centers. There are many reasons to think it was a very special village. “Bethany was not far from Jerusalem (there was also a Bethany across the Jordan river). Here is a quote from the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies on this place in Bethany. One of the hallmarks of this community is their devotion to serving the poor and caring for the sick. Since Mary and Martha lived in Bethany, it is possible they belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Essenes.

They were possibly part of a Jewish sect called the Essenes. I am not sure how this relationship formed or developed, but we know these people were special to Jesus. We see this especially when Lazarus dies and Jesus’ emotional response when he arrives at the tomb of Lazarus. This relationship extended not just to Mary and Martha but also to their brother Lazarus. They truly held a special place in his heart. What this tells me is that Jesus had more than just a casual relationship with Mary and Martha. However, there are very few places in Scripture that highlight this level of love on such a personal level. We know that Jesus loves everyone because that is his nature.

Perhaps the most obvious thing to know about Mary and Martha in the Bible is they were loved by Jesus. 'Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.' – John 11:5

The story of lazarus in the bible