An expert says religious motivations could have spurred the disappearance of a satiric billboard of Donald Trump and the crucified Jesus.

The picture of Mr Trump holding a hammer, standing in front of Jesus Christ saying "I don't like losers" went missing from outside St Lukes Church in Remuera yesterday, while the minister conducted a funeral service.

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Massey University professor of history Peter Lineham said it would've been very easy for someone to miss the satire, get offended by it and want it gone.

"So actually of course the poster is saying that this is the whole paradox of Christianity, that it follows a religion of a person that does look like a failure."

Lineham said it's possible the billboard was taken by a religiously motivated group, or individual.

"It could be people who find any sort of impish picture of a Jesus as being irreverent. That might be what they were offended by."